News and Articles

State Hospital-acquired infection public reporting and MRSA prevention bills under consideration in 2008
This chart details hospital infection reporting bills being considered by state legislatures in 2008. Twenty one states have laws that require public reporting of infection rates.

State Hospital Infection Disclosure Laws
Summary of state laws as of July 2008.

Congressional Legislation
Hospital-acquired infection public reporting bills and antibiotic resistant protection and prevention bills under consideration in Congress.

Hospital-acquired infection public reporting bills under consideration in 2007
This chart details hospital infection reporting bills being considered by state legislatures in 2007. Twenty one states have laws that require public reporting of infection rates.

State hospital infection reports now available:


More About The Issue

Like Night and Day- Shedding Light on Off-Hours Care New England Journal of Medicine (May 15, 2008)
The consequences of service deficiencies during off-hours include higher mortality and readmission rates, more surgical complications, and more medical errors. Given the health care industry's renewed focus on ensuring patient safety and providing high-quality medical care, why hasn't the situation changed at the "other hospital"?

Superbug / MRSA California epidemic Nile's Project video
Clips from a Californial hearing on MRSA. Sen. Florez questions California medical experts. Includes testimony from Betsy Imholz (Consumers Union) and Carole Moss (the Nile's Project). Video produced by the Nile's Project MRSA (www.nilesproject.com).

Potentially Deadly Infection Doubles Among Hospital Patients Over Last 5 Years
The Agency for Health care Research and Quality report finds disturbing trends in c.difficile infections, which can lead to diarrhea, blood poisoning and death.

Hearing video: Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic April 16, 2008
Hearing of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Chairman Henry A. Waxman.

GAO Report: Federal Response to Health Care Associated Infections April 16, 2008
Health-Care-Associated Infections in Hospitals: Leadership Needed from HHS to Prioritize Prevention Practices and Improve Data on These Infections.

Catheter chaos: Most hospitals are failing to follow proven strategies to prevent urinary tract infections
University of Michigan survey reveals that hospitals don’t have a consistent strategy for dealing with urinary catheters or ensuring their timely removal

CU comments on CMS non-payment rules
Listening session on Medicare non-payment for hospital-acquired conditions 12-31-07.

Surgical Infection Prevention The Commonwealth Fund (December 2006)
About three of every 100 operations performed in the United States are complicated by surgical site infections (Gaynes et al. 2001).

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) web page on nonpayment of hospital-acquired infections and other conditions
Includes the list of “hospital-acquired conditions” for which no additional payments will be made starting Oct. 1, 2009.

The Checklist: If something so simple can transform intensive care, what else can it do? The New Yorker (December 10, 2007)
The I.C.U., with its spectacular successes and frequent failures, therefore poses a distinctive challenge: what do you do when expertise is not enough?

UK hospital infection reports: (October 24, 2007)
See the latest of five reports based on the mandatory reporting of hospital-acquired infections (including MRSA) by UK’s Health Protection Agency. Other reports specifically on MRSA can be viewed online.

UK hospital infection reports:
See the latest of five reports based on the mandatory reporting of hospital-acquired infections (including MRSA) by UK’s Health Protection Agency. Other reports specifically on MRSA can be viewed online.

Invasive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in the United States Journal of American Medical Association (October 17, 2007)
Study reveals overwhelming majority of MRSA infections are acquired in hospitals and health care settings.

Spread the Word. Not the Germs!
The CT Center for Patient Safety has a quiz about hospital-acquired infections for Hospital Infection Prevention Week. The CT Center’s Germ Warfare Committee is one of the most active state organizations in the country. They led the way to passage of that state’s public reporting law.

New Medicare rules on non-payment for hospital infections and other medical errors
Rules go into effect October 1, 2008.

CDC publishes sobering stats on hospital infection
In a newly released study, the CDC estimates that there are 4.5 hospital infections for every 100 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 deaths from hospital infection. This long awaited assessment was published in the March-April 2007 journal, Public Health Reports and can be found on the CDC's website. Consumers Union summarizes the results here.

Dispelling the Myths: The True Cost of Health Care Associated Infections APIC (February, 2007)
Report shows that hospital-acquired infections erode the profit margin of US hospitals by $5000 per infected patient.

Infections due to medical care in Oregon hospitals (November 2006)
Report highlights the financial impact of hospital infections in Oregon

Rates of C-Difficile infections reported in Ohio (March 2007)
A new Ohio report shows that cases of C-Difficile infections exceed 1,000 every month according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Florida Gov. Crist calls for “best practices to reduce hospital-acquired infections and improve outcomes" (January, 2007)
See last paragraph

Ohio publishes rate of c.difficile in state's hospitals
Clostridium difficile is an increasingly important cause of infectious diseases, especially in health care settings. Find reported rates for Ohio acute care hospitals and nursing homes for 2006.

Texas hospital infection committee recommends statewide reporting system


Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Getting to zero
Clinical evidence shows that hospitals can virtually eliminate such infections by following a special ventilator patient care protocol

Remaking American Medicine: First Do No Harm PBS-TV (October 12, 2006)
Beginning on October 5, PBS presents a four-part series on pioneering individuals struggling to fix our broken health care system. Episode Two, entitled "First Do No Harm," focuses on hospital infections and will air on October 12 on most PBS stations. Check local listings to confirm.

Improving hand hygiene in hospitals
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement publishes a new tool to help hospitals improve hand hygiene and compliance with 2002 CDC guidelines. Is your hospital using it?

Doctors told to stop shaving surgical sites to prevent infections
Research has shown that skin abrasions caused by shaving increases the risk of postoperative infections.

Congressional Hearing on Public Reporting of Hospital Infections
Listen to a webcast of the House Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee's March 29, 2006 hearing on hospital infections by clicking on the link above.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement touts lives saved by its hospital campaign
Group says 60,500 lives have been saved in the first nine months of its one-year campaign to prevent unnecessary deaths at hospitals, including fatalities from infections.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement challenges myth that infections cannot be eliminated
The rate of ventilator associated pneumonia in 14 hospitals participating in IHI's 100,000 Lives campaign drops to zero.

Pennsylvania releases new information about heart surgery and hospital infections
Pennsylvania report (PDF file) identifies key findings about hospital-acquired infections in heart surgery patients.

Pennsylvania’s hospital acquired infection battle
An in-depth look at how Pennsylvania is tackling hospital-acquired infections and getting significant results: saving lives, reducing illness, and lowering health care costs.

Active surveillance cultures helping to control infections
The use of active surveillance cultures to screen patients for MRSA, along with appropriate precautions for infected patients is a promising new strategy for preventing and controlling hospital infectons.

Vermont set to require reporting of hospital-acquired infection rates!
A state working group's recommendations to the legislature pave the way for implementation this year, adding several hospital infection measures to an existing hospital report card system.

Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Healthcare Settings
CDC: Of the estimated 1.6 million nursing home residents, 250,000 have infections, and 27,000 of them have antibiotic resistant infections.

Steps you can take to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections
Most of us will have to go into the hospital some day. Here are specific steps you can follow to protect yourself from deadly hospital infections.

Infection-Thwarting Catheters, Planning Key in Reducing Hospital Deaths
New study shows that antiseptic-coated catheters and better safety measures in hospitals can significantly reduce the number of infection-related hospital deaths.

MRSA Watch: Tracking the rise of antibodic resistant infections
MRSA Watch site gives extensive information about studies, guidelines and recent stories about MRSA in the UK.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has now signed up over 2900 US hospitals to participate in their 100,000 Lives campaign
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has now signed up over 2900 US hospitals to participate in their 100,000 Lives campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to save lives by using proven methods to prevent hospital-acquired infections and medical errors. Consumers should know about these life-saving practices and if your care in the hospital involves having surgery, IVs, or ventilators, be sure to ask if your caregivers are using them.

Lack of Commitment to Cleaner Hospitals in the UK, Patients Association reports
A report by The Patients Association into hospital acquired infections reveals haphazard approach towards screening patients for MRSA.

A proactive approach to educate patients about and prevent hospital-acquired infections
The Saskatoon Health Region in Canada has taken a proactive approach to educate their patients about and prevent hospital-acquired infections, including information about rates of infection. They have developed fact sheets for patients about common hospital infections – MRSA, VRE, and C. difficile – including how patients with these infections can minimize their spread and the prevention measures they should expect from hospital staff.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
CDC pages on healthcare-acquired infections and community-acquired infections

Drug-resistant staphylococcus bacteria
Drug-resistant staphylococcus bacteria, which once threatened mainly patients in hospitals and nursing homes, have spread beyond the institutional walls and are now striking young, healthy people at a growing rate. The bugs, mainly new strains of the types lurking in hospitals, are spread by contact with infected skin or simply by sharing towels, clothing, or other personal items.

The Problem of Antibiotic Resistance
The problem of antibiotic resistance in treating hospital-acquired infections from the National of Allergy and Infectious Diseases discusses

Hand Hygiene is the number 1 weapon against infections
Reader Feedback: Hand Hygiene is No. 1 Weapon Against Infections

National Hospital Compare site suspends effort to publicly report surgical infection prevention measure
After careful consideration the CMS along with the JCAHO have agreed to temporarily suspend public reporting of hospital performance on appropriate antibiotic selection for surgical prophylaxis. CMS and JCAHO will continue to collect data on antibiotic selection for surgical prophylaxis during the temporary suspension but will not publicly report performance on this measure on Hospital Compare.

Infection prevention experts stress importance of hand hygiene compliance
Despite the fact that hand hygiene is the most simple and effective means of reducing the transmission of germs, many clinicians do not consistently follow hand hygiene recommendations, such as those issued by the CDC.

Association of Infection Control Professionals (APIC) discusses mandatory reporting of hospital-acquired infections
Association of Infection Control Professionals (APIC) discusses mandatory reporting of hospital-acquired infections and provides links to key information sites

Cost of hospital infections in New York
An analysis by Assemblyman Pete Grannis estimates the state and local Medicaid cost of hospital infections is $100-$200 million each year.

Legislation shields medical error information but will not interfere with state mandatory reporting laws.
In 2004, Consumers Union worked with others around the country to ensure that legislation being considered by Congress would not prevent state laws that required public disclosure of hospital-specific infection rates. The bill has now been reintroduced and keeps the language that will permit states to require publication of hospital-specific infection rates.

Patient Safety Minnesota Department of Health (January 20, 2005)
Minnesota releases adverse events report released. The report identifies 27 different “medical errors” (such as operating on the wrong part of the body or wrong patient) and “adverse events” (such as patient falls, suicide, and abduction), it does not include hospital-acquired infections. A new bill filed in the MN legislature (HF 87) will require inclusion of hospital infections in the future.

Stay safe in the hospital
The January issue of Consumer Reports on Health newsletter tells patients and their relatives how to get the best care and prevent hospital infections and medication errors.  Click here to see the new online version of this newsletter where more health information is available - some free and some with subscription.

Study: Hospital mortalities down, readmissions up - AP (September 28, 2004)
Pennsylvania hospital performance reports include information about hospital-acquired infections.

National project shows that hospitals can reduce surgical site infections
The results of a year-long study among 56 hospital teams around the country recently revealed positive results. The Surgical Infection Prevention Collaborative aims to reduce deaths and injuries due to postoperative infections in the Medicare population, but the net effect is that everyone who goes to a hospital that institutes these practices will be safer. (pdf format only)

MISSOURI: General Assembly passes hospital infection reporting bill
SB1279 was passed on May 5 and is now waiting for Governor Bob Holden’s signature. The bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to collect and publicly report the infection rates of individual hospitals. Primary sponsors Sen. Sarah Steelman and Rep. Rob Schaaf, M.D., worked with a host of co-sponsors and stakeholders including family members of people affected by hospital-acquired infections, the Missouri Hospital Association, and Consumers Union.

BOSTON, ORLANDO, DALLAS, SAN FRANCISCO and CHICAGO host meetings on hospital quality
If you are concerned about hospital quality, you have a chance to attend public meetings in Boston, Orlando, Dallas, San Francisco and Chicago in the months of April, May and June and let the federal government know what's on your mind.

Is hospital quality of care data available in your state? - (February 2004)
Only Illinois and Pennsylvania have passed specific laws to make hospital-acquired infection rates public, but many states collect and report other hospital quality of care measures, like mortality from specific surgeries.

CDC's tips for surgery partients to prevent infections
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents helpful tips on preventing hospital-acquired infections.

What You Should Know About the Biggest Health Care Payer in the U.S.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) is a little known entity with a lot of power: it oversees the operation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs and sets standards for most hospitals in the U.S.

Avoiding Hospital Blunders (Knowing the Risks and Speaking Up Can Help You Stay Safe)
Consumer Reports on Health gives tips on avoiding hospital blunders.

How To Find A Good Hospital
Consumer Reports on Health gives tips on finding the right hospital for your special needs.

The National Quality Forum Releases Voluntary Standards
The NQF, a coalition of medical groups, employers, consumer groups and others, this year released practice standards to reduce hospital infection and other quality of care problems.

JCAHO Asks Hospitals to Report
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations this year asked hospitals to improve their reporting of hospital infections that result in serious harm or death to the patient (sentinel events).

The Impact of Hospital Acquired Bloodstream Infections
Researchers estimate that blood stream infections, a subset of all hospital-acquired infecation, may be the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. Study sites other research showing substantial reduction in infection with better hand washing compliance.

Hand Washing Prevents Hospital Infections
The CDC estimates that each year nearly 2 million patients in the U.S. get an infection in hospitals, and about 90,000 of these patients die as a result of their infection. The CDC presents new hand-hygiene guidelines to reduce the spread of infections.

Hospital Infections Cost U.S. Billions of Dollars Annually
The CDC estimates that hospital-acquired infections cost us all nearly $5 billion a year.

Learn more about MRSA
Real People, Real Stories

Kelsie-Knepp.jpg Kelsie Knepp, Lapel, Indiana
Kelsie Knepp was an active 17-year-old high school volleyball player when a bad landing on a spike injured her ACL. She went in for knee surgery on September 17, 2007 expecting to be back at school after just one week. Kelsie went back to class, but developed soreness in her leg and felt so sick she wasn’t able to go back the next day. Instead, she went back to the hospital where doctors determined she had developed an infection, opened her surgical incision and cleaned out the wound. A nurse handed Kelsie’s mother a pamphlet on MRSA, with the doctor dismissing the infection as “bad luck.” Kelsie had a MRSA infection in her blood and was sent home with a PICC line that she used until the end of October. Read more »

Share your hospital infection story.
Have you or a loved one contracted a hospital infection when you went in for surgery or other illness? Over a 1000 people have shared their hospital infection experiences. We would like to hear your story. Read their stories.

UPDATES FROM CONSUMERS UNION:

CU comments in support of Medicare nonpayment rules for hospital infections
Consumers Union applauds CMS for significantly expanding the list of hospital-acquired conditions for which Medicare will not reimburse health care providers.

Consumers Union Statement of Support for CA SB 1058 (Alquist)
SB 1058 gives the public essential hospital safety information, including hospital infection rates.

CU comments in favor of NJ hospital infection reporting regulations
Consumers Union supports the adoption of these regulations with modifications as discussed in these comments.

More federal action needed on hospital infections
CU calls for bolder federal steps to protect patients from hospital infections

Policy Brief: MRSA
Consumers Union supports requiring hospitals to screen patients for MRSA.

CU comments on CMS non-payment rules
Listening session on Medicare non-payment for hospital-acquired conditions 12-31-07.

More federal action needed on hospital infections(December 11, 2007)
Consumers Union calls for bolder federal steps to protect patients from hospital infections.

Report: MD and VA hospitals vary on infections
Best and worst hospitals vary greatly on practices used to prevent surgical infections.

CU comments to CMS rules re: not paying for hospital-acquired infections
Comments submitted June 8, 2007.

Model Hospital Infection Disclosure Act - Revised
Consumers Union has Medicare Modernization Act ed a model bill for use by state legislatures that wish to require disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates to the public.

Policy Brief: Public disclosure will encourage hospitals to improve infection practices
If consumers can choose a hospital based on good information about the quality of care, including hospital infection rates, hospitals will quickly implement better practices. En Espanol (PDF)

CU letter to OR House Health Care Committee
CU urges OR committee to support hospital infection reporting bill.

Hospitals need to do more to prevent patient infections
CU urges broader hospital participation in national patient safety campaign

Stop Hospital Infections petition and supporting materials:
View the petition submitted to hospitals
Hospital-acquired infection talking points
What hospitals can do to prevent infections

CU letter to CA Assembly Appropriations Cmte opposing SB 739
CU urges CA Assembly Appropriations Cmte oppose SB739

CU letter opposing CA Senate Bill 739 Assembly Health Cmte
CU urges the CA Assembly Health Committee to oppose the amended version of SB 739

CU urges House panel to examine strong hospital infection reporting system
Consumer Union's letter to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, which is looking into the issue of hospital infections.

Hospital-acquired infection reporting bills under consideration in 2006
Many of these are based on the CU Model “Hospital Infection Disclosure Act.” indicating the power of activists around the country who asked their elected officials to introduce this bill. Click here for another useful website on hospital infection reporting legislation.

CU testimony supports Public Disclosure of hospital infections
The www.StopHospitalInfections.org campaign submitted testimony to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health in support of requiring hospitals to report their infection rates to the public.

Hospital-acquired infection reporting bills under consideration in 2005
In 2005, more than half of state legislatures are considered bills to make hospital-acquired infection rates public.



Read the stories of those on the ground, working to stop hospital infections in their local communities.

South Carolina activists

Lisa Toolen

Lisa Toolen’s son, Jimmy, was an active and healthy 15-year old who had out-patient knee surgery in 2005. They never imagined that it could turn into such a life changing event for her family. But that was before he developed a debilitating infection from his surgery that threatened his life and ultimately may leave him permanently disabled. Since his initial surgery, Lisa’s son has had five more surgeries and is preparing for another one to repair the damage caused by the antibiotic resistant infection that has wreaked havoc on his health. Ms. Toolen attended all the public hearings to support the hospital infection disclosure bill, telling legislators about her son’s story and the continuing struggle to save his leg. She also was interviewed by print and television media, which helped to educate the public about hospital-acquired infections.

Helen Haskell

Helen Haskell, founder of Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME), was another key advocate for the Stop Hospital Infection Campaign in South Carolina where she worked with a coalition of other activists (individuals with hospital infection experiences) and organizations (John Ruoff, SC Fair Share; Theresa Arnold, SC AARP; and other) to get the hospital infection public disclosure bill passed into law this year. Helen became a patient safety advocate after her 15 year old son died from a medical error in 2000. She successfully worked for passage of the Lewis Blackman Hospital Safety Act in 2005 in honor of her son. The law requires all doctors wear identification tags, so patients will know if a doctor or medical resident is attending a patient.


The Stop Hospital Infection campaign worked with South Carolina Fair Share (SCFS), South Carolina AARP and Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME) as well as individuals with hospital infection experiences.

Read more »