Sacramento, California - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today released the Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) in California Hospitals Annual Report for 2013 and Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Personnel in California Hospitals for the 2013-14 respiratory influenza season. This is the fifth year CDPH has published hospital-specific infection incidence data and the sixth year CDPH has published HCP influenza vaccination rate data from California hospitals. Hospital reporting compliance has increased to 99% for HAI and 100% for HCP influenza vaccination.
Despite significant progress, HAI continue to be a public health risk in healthcare settings. In 2013, 424 acute care hospitals reported 18,780 HAI to CDPH. With the exception of C. difficile diarrheal infections, which have increased 5% since 2011, the report shows that overall, California hospitals have demonstrated progress in preventing HAI as compared to national and state baselines.
This year’s report highlights 61 hospitals that demonstrated significant reductions in HAI from 2012 to 2013. In response to this annual report, CDPH is contacting hospitals with high infection incidence to ensure they are aware of and responding to the need for improvement. CDPH is also providing assistance and support to hospitals for implementation of prevention action plans. CDPH has identified 112 hospitals with high HAI incidence and targeted them for consultations.
Hospitals also continue to make progress in their HCP vaccination coverage. In the 2013-14 influenza season, 85% of California hospitals achieved more than 60 percent vaccination among employees compared to 71% in 2012-13.
For the first time, the HAI data will be available on mobile devices by an enhanced interactive map designed to help the public interpret hospital-specific findings. In addition, hospital HAI profiles have also been added to the interactive map this year resulting in all infection findings from each hospital appearing on a single page. The data will also be available through CDPH’s Open Data Portal.
Hospitals should review these data, and implement infection prevention strategies specific to their local needs. The public should review the infection information presented for their local hospitals. They can ask their healthcare providers questions about the reported data and how the hospital is protecting against HAI. Public awareness reinforces expectations of patient safety and emphasizes professional responsibility to protect patients.
