The Leapfrog Group has published its Spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grades, highlighting a surge in three dangerous healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across acute care settings in the US. The report found double-digit increases in MRSA, CLABSI, and CAUTI, which were at a five-year high during the COVID-19 crisis and remain elevated. Despite these safety concerns, some hospitals are making strides in managing HAIs and preventing their most adverse effects by using technology to improve their patient safety efforts.
The Leapfrog Group has published its Spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grades, highlighting a surge in three of the most dangerous healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across acute care settings in the United States. The report compared infection data for this safety grades cycle, covering late 2021 and 2022, to the previous grades from 2021, and found double-digit increases in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).
According to the report, these rates were at a five-year high during the COVID-19 crisis and remain elevated. The standardized infection ratio measurement, which compares the actual number of HAIs at each hospital to the predicted number of infections, is applied to six different HAIs in the Leapfrog report.
Nationwide, the report showed that the average CLABSI standard infection ratio increased by 60%, while the average MRSA standard infection ratio increased by 37%, and the average CAUTI standard infection ratio increased by 19%. The increase in HAIs was not uniform across states, with 32 out of 50 states experiencing a significant increase in CLABSI, 18 states having a significant increase in MRSA, and 11 states having a significant increase in CAUTI. West Virginia had the most substantial increase in CLABSI and MRSA, while New Mexico had the most significant increase in CAUTI.
The Leapfrog Group CEO, Leah Binder, called the dramatic spike in HAIs alarming, as infections like these can be life-threatening for some patients. While the COVID-19 pandemic put a tremendous strain on hospitals and their workforce, these findings indicate that hospitals must recommit to patient safety and build more resilience.
HAIs are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. They can occur in any healthcare setting, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory care clinics, and other outpatient settings. HAIs are caused by a wide range of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These infections are a significant public health concern, as they can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
MRSA, CLABSI, and CAUTI are among the most common and severe HAIs. MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics, making it difficult to treat. CLABSI occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream through a central line, which is a tube inserted into a large vein that delivers medication, fluids, or nutrients directly into the bloodstream. CAUTI occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through a catheter, which is a tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine.
HAIs are preventable through effective infection prevention and control practices, such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and disinfection, appropriate use of antimicrobial agents, and adherence to standard precautions. However, the prevention of HAIs requires a collaborative effort among healthcare providers, patients, and families.
The Leapfrog report’s findings on the increase in HAIs come at a time when hospitals are still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has strained the healthcare system’s capacity and resources, resulting in increased workload and fatigue among healthcare providers. Additionally, the pandemic has led to changes in healthcare delivery, such as increased use of telemedicine, which may have unintended consequences for infection prevention and control.
