Oregon Hospitals Report Reduction in HAIs, Achieve Cost Savings

Oregon hospitals reported a reduction in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as well as a potential cost savings as a result of hospitals enhanced infection prevention activities.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) have decreased 55 percent from 2009 to 2011, and the estimated healthcare cost savings for this infection ranges from $600,000 to $2.5 million during those years.  In addition, Oregon has demonstrated a 10 percent reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs) from coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and a 20 percent reduction in SSIs from knee replacement surgeries since 2009.

The report highlights:

In 2011, Oregon introduced five new HAI measures and four are now below the national average.

- CLABSIs in ICUs (44 percent lower)

- Abdominal hysterectomy SSIs (21 percent lower)

- Colon surgery SSIs (20 percent lower)

- Laminectomy SSIs (31 percent lower)

However, the hip replacement SSI rate was reported to be 13 percent higher than the national average.

Oregon's HAI report can be accessed here: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/pages/hai_report.aspx