Definition

Infections that are acquired in a health care setting, as measured by a standardized infection ratio (SIR)

Numerator

Total number of "observed" or actual infections

Denominator

Total number of "expected" infections (derived from the national baseline)

Why Is This Important?

Healthcare-associated infections are among the top causes of unnecessary illnesses and deaths in the United States.[https://www.nj.gov/health/healthcarequality/health-care-professionals/healthcare-associated-infections/ ^1^]

Healthy People Objective: Reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)

U.S. Target: 0.25 SIR or 75 percent reduction
State Target: 0.49 SIR

Other Objectives

'''Revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objectives:''' *'''HAI-1''': Reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) to 0.49 SIR. *'''HAI-2''': Reduce catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) to 0.74 SIR. *'''HAI-3''': Reduce colon surgical site infections to 0.69 SIR. *'''HAI-4''': Reduce coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs) surgical site infections to 0.74 SIR. *'''HAI-5''': Reduce abdominal hysterectomies surgical site infections to 0.70 SIR. *'''HAI-6''': Reduce knee arthroplasties surgical site infections to 0.70 SIR. All objectives and data are for hospitals only. Ambulatory surgery centers are not included.

How Are We Doing?

The Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets for CAUTI and colon and abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections were all achieved. However, the CLABSI and CABG and knee arthroplasty surgical site infection targets were not met.

What Is Being Done?

Reducing preventable HAIs is a priority for the Department of Health and under state law, New Jersey hospitals are required to submit data on healthcare-associated infections to the Department. The Department is required to review and analyze the data, and report the results in New Jersey's annual Hospital Performance Report.[https://www.nj.gov/health/healthcarequality/health-care-professionals/submit-reporting/hais/index.shtml ^2^]