Hospital-Acquired (Nosocomial) Infections

Infections acquired in the process of care, or nosocomial infections, are one of the most serious patient safety concerns. This is especially true in some care settings, such as intensive care units (ICUs), and for some procedures, such as central vascular catheters (CVCs).

Figure 3.1. Nosocomial infections in ICU patients, 1998-2002

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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System.

Note: The lines for catheter-associated urinary tract infections and central-line bloodstream infections in ICU patients overlap. Both ventilator-associated pneumonia measures were redefined in 2002; thus data for these two measures for 2002 are not presented in this chart.

• NNIS data show that hospital-acquired infections in some types of ICUs have gradually declined from 1998 to 2002 (Figure 3.1). The targets set for Healthy People 2010⁸ for four of the five measures tracked through NNIS were met by 2002.
• High risk is associated with the use of CVCs and ventilators. In 2002, 2.4% of CVC procedures resulted in infections at the insertion sites, 1.5% of CVC procedures resulted in bloodstream infections, and 7.9% of ventilator uses caused pneumonia (MPSMS, 2002).

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