Healthcare-Associated Infections: How to Check Your Hospital

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections patients acquire during the course of receiving treatment in a healthcare facility. These infections are a critical measure of hospital safety, and CMS publicly reports infection rates for every hospital — data you can and should check before a hospital stay.

Types of Healthcare-Associated Infections Tracked by CMS

CMS tracks five major types of HAIs:

• CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection): Infections from central venous catheters, which are tubes placed in large veins to deliver medication or fluids
• CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection): Infections linked to urinary catheters
• SSI (Surgical Site Infection): Infections that occur at the site of surgery, tracked for specific procedures like colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy
• MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus): Infections from a dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterium
• C.diff (Clostridioides difficile): A bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and colitis, often linked to antibiotic use in hospitals

How Infection Rates Are Reported

CMS reports infection rates using a metric called the Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR), which compares the number of infections at a hospital to the number that would be predicted based on national data. The comparison categories are:

• "Better than the national benchmark": Fewer infections than predicted — the hospital has strong infection prevention
• "No different than the national benchmark": Infection rates are within the expected range
• "Worse than the national benchmark": More infections than predicted — a potential concern

Why HAIs Matter

• HAIs affect approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients on any given day
• They can lead to longer hospital stays, additional treatments, and increased costs
• Some HAIs can be life-threatening, particularly for immunocompromised patients
• Many HAIs are preventable through proper infection control practices

How to Protect Yourself

• Research before your stay: Check your hospital's infection rates on Medicare Care Compare
• Hand hygiene: Don't hesitate to ask doctors, nurses, and visitors to wash their hands before touching you
• Ask about catheters: Request that urinary catheters and central lines be removed as soon as they are no longer needed
• Surgical preparation: Follow all pre-surgical instructions, including skin preparation
• Antibiotics: Ask your doctor about antibiotic stewardship — using antibiotics only when necessary reduces C.diff risk
• Speak up: If your wound site looks red, swollen, or feels warm, tell your care team immediately

Where to Check Infection Rates

• Medicare Care Compare — search for any hospital and look under the "Complications & Deaths" section
• State health department websites often publish additional infection data
• Ask the hospital directly about their infection prevention programs

Data sourced from CMS and the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Visit Medicare Care Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.