To help patients make more informed decisions on where to receive healthcare, the California Department of Public Health has released its annual report on healthcare-associated infections and healthcare personnel influenza vaccination rates.
The data in the HAI report reflects the performance of California hospitals in 2014, and was collected from 392 licensed general acute care hospitals, representing 419 hospital campuses.
Highlighted below are five things to know from the report.
1. Central line-associated bloodstream infections in California decreased 49 percent from the 2008 national baseline for CLABSIs.
2. Clostridium difficile infections rose 9 percent above the national baseline between 2011 and 2014.
3. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus incidence decreased 24 percent in 2014 from the 2011 national MRSA baseline.
4. Overall, surgical site infections — including those for colon surgeries and hysterectomies — decreased 40 percent in 2014 from the 2008 national SSI baseline.
5. Influenza vaccination coverage among California hospital employees increased to 85 percent during the 2014 to 2015 flu season, up from 81 percent between 2013 and 2014, and 74 percent between 2012 and 2013. Vaccination coverage also increased for non-employee healthcare personnel, to 66 percent.
To access the full CDPH report on HAIs, click here. To access the full CDPH report on vaccine coverage, click here.
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