On-Demand Learning Lab: Updates in Infection Prevention and Control - A View from CDC-Recording Updates in Infection Prevention and Control

Video Transcription

Video Summary

CDC’s Dr. Arjun Srinivasan reviewed U.S. trends in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic stewardship, and sepsis initiatives. Using NHSN data, he showed that major HAIs improved before COVID-19, then rose sharply during the pandemic due to higher patient acuity, device use, staffing shortages, and infection prevention resources being diverted to COVID. By mid-2023, some measures had returned to or surpassed pre-pandemic levels (CAUTI, MRSA bacteremia), while CLABSI and especially ventilator-associated events remained above baseline. C. difficile continued to decline throughout the pandemic and is a notable success.<br /><br />Antimicrobial resistance similarly worsened during the pandemic, reversing prior progress. Srinivasan highlighted near-universal adoption of hospital antibiotic stewardship programs (about 97% with CDC core elements) and encouraged moving toward “priority” implementation approaches, particularly improving tracking and reporting.<br /><br />He explained new CMS Promoting Interoperability requirements beginning in 2024 for electronic reporting of antibiotic use and resistance to NHSN (not shared with CMS and not tied to payment/public reporting). He also introduced CDC’s 2023 core elements for hospital sepsis programs and emphasized collaboration between sepsis teams and stewardship programs, plus continued vaccination of healthcare personnel against flu and COVID.

Keywords

healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

NHSN data reporting

COVID-19 impact on infection rates

antimicrobial resistance trends

antibiotic stewardship programs

CAUTI and CLABSI metrics

ventilator-associated events

CMS Promoting Interoperability 2024 requirements

hospital sepsis program core elements (CDC 2023)