A recently released New Mexico Department of Health report suggests healthcare facilities in the state are making progress in preventing healthcare-associated infections and boosting healthcare personnel seasonal influenza vaccination rates.
This is the seventh year the New Mexico Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee has released a public report on HAI rates in the state.
"In some areas, the facilities are exceeding the national targets for reducing [HAIs]," said the Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward. "We must continue working collaboratively on prevention control methods and best practices for continued success."
Highlighted below are four findings from the report.
1. During the 2014 to 2015 influenza season, 82.4 percent of healthcare personnel were reported as having received a flu vaccine. Additionally, 10 facilities met the national Healthy People 2020 vaccination target of 90 percent for healthcare personnel.
2. In 2014, 24 voluntarily reporting hospitals showed 61 percent fewer methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections than estimated on the 2010 to 2011 national baseline.
3. Central line-associated bloodstream infections data for 2014 showed fewer infections than predicted based on comparison to the 2006 to 2008 national baseline. Based on the predictions, hospital nonintensive care units reported 63 percent fewer infections, adult and pediatric ICUs reported 39 percent fewer infections and neo-natal ICUs reported 17 percent fewer infections.
4. Despite the progress made in vaccination rates, MRSA cases and CLABSIs, the New Mexico hospitals reported 15 percent more facility-wide onset Clostridium difficile infections in 2014 than expected based on the 2010 to 2011 national baseline.
To access the full NM Healthcare Associated Infections Annual Report 2014, click here.
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