WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hospital-acquired infections declined in U.S. hospitals between 2015 and 2023, according to new federal data, though health officials estimate more than half a million patients still developed infections during hospital stays last year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately one in 38 hospitalized patients had at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) on any given day in 2023, compared with one in 31 patients in 2015. After adjusting for differences in patient populations, the agency found hospitalized patients in 2023 were less likely to acquire an infection than those surveyed eight years earlier.
The findings are based on a 2023 survey of 13,653 patients at 218 hospitals in 10 states conducted through the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program. Medical records were reviewed using National Healthcare Safety Network definitions to identify healthcare-associated infections.
Despite the improvement, the CDC estimates roughly 518,000 HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals during 2023, contributing to billions of dollars in healthcare costs and ongoing patient safety risks.
Pneumonia, surgical site infections and gastrointestinal infections were the most common HAIs identified in the survey. The CDC also reported that 61% of infections were not associated with medical devices or procedures.
Acting CDC Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya credited collaboration between the CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with helping reduce infections through quality reporting, benchmarking and accountability measures.
“More needs to be done but this effort is notable in its progress on a very challenging issue,” Bhattacharya said. “I am pleased to see these efforts save lives and reduce the cost of care.”
The survey identified significant declines in central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and Clostridioides difficile infections, trends the CDC attributed to improved infection prevention and control practices.
Rates of surgical site infections and pneumonia, however, showed little change, indicating areas where additional prevention efforts remain necessary.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz indicated that reducing preventable harm in hospitals remains a priority.
“The drop in healthcare-associated infections shows that accountability and transparency are driving results,” Oz stated. “Progress so far is promising, but preventable harm across our healthcare system must continue to decline.”
The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Additional information about the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program is available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/haic-eip/antibiotic-use.html.
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