Infection
-
Healthcare-associated infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality at hospitals in the United States. Surveillance of these infections identifies secular trends and provides data upon which prevention interventions can be based in order to improve patient safety. National surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was initiated in the United States in 1970. ⋯ These methods have resulted in a significant reduction in bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and surgical site infections in surgical patients. The NNIS data show that national surveillance of healthcare-associated infections combined with an intervention prevention program can reduce infection rates, reduce morbidity and mortality and improve patient safety. Establishment of such healthcare-associated infection surveillance and prevention systems in countries throughout the world should be a priority.