A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control examined the perceived impact of state-mandated healthcare-associated infection laws on infection prevention and control departments.
Researchers conducted a web-based survey of a national sample of all non-veteran hospitals enrolled in the National Healthcare Safety Network in fall 2011. The survey had a 30 percent response rate, with 1,036 infection prevention and control departments responding.
Of the 1,036 infection prevention and control departments that provided data, 73 percent were located in states with mandated HAI laws. Respondents in states with reporting laws were more likely to report less time for routine infection prevention and control activities as compared to respondents in states without laws, after controlling for geographic region, setting, and the presence of a hospital epidemiologist.
"Further research should examine resources necessary to comply with state HAI laws and evaluate unintended consequences of state HAI laws," study authors concluded,