Publications
Economic Burden of HAIs
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Changes in Medicare Reimbursement
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Preliminary results from Survey 1
CHAIPI webinar May 7, 2009 (PowerPoint)
Stone PW, Pogorzelska M, Kunches L, Hirschhorn L. Hospital Staffing and Healthcare Associated Infections: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;47(7):937-44.
Abstract: In the past 10 years, many researchers have examined relationships between hospital staffing and patients' risk of health care-associated infection (HAI). To gain understanding of this evidence base, a systematic review was conducted, and 42 articles were audited. The most common infection studied was bloodstream infection (n=18; 43%). The majority of researchers examined nurse staffing (n=38; 90%); of these, only 7 (18%) did not find a statistically significant association between nurse staffing variable(s) and HAI rates. Use of nonpermanent staff was associated with increased rates of HAI in 4 studies (P<.05). Three studies addressed infection control professional staffing with mixed results. Physician staffing was not found to be associated with patients' HAI risk (n=2). The methods employed and operational definitions used for both staffing and HAI varied; despite this variability, trends were apparent. Research characterizing effective staffing for infection control departments is needed.
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Stone PW, Dick A, Pogorzelska M, Horan TC, Furuya EY, Larson E. Staffing and structure of infection prevention and control programs. Am J Infect Control. E-publication ahead of print.
Abstract
Background: The nature of infection prevention and control is changing, however, little is known about current staffing and structure of infection prevention and control programs.
Objective: To provide a snapshot of the staffing and structure of hospital-based infection prevention and control programs in the United States.
Methods: A web-based survey was sent to 441 hospitals that participate in the National Healthcare Safety Network.
Results: The response rate was 66% (n = 289); data were examined on 821 professionals. Infection preventionist (IP) staffing was significantly negatively related to bed size, with higher staffing in smaller hospitals (p < .001). Median staffing was 1 IP per 167 beds. Forty-seven percent of IPs were certified and 24 percent had less than 2 years of experience. Most directors or hospital epidemiologists were reported to have authority to close beds for outbreaks always or most of the time (n = 225, 78%). Only 32% (n = 92) reported using an electronic surveillance system to track infections.
Conclusions: This study is the first to provide a comprehensive description of current infection prevention and control staffing, organization and support in a select group of hospitals across the nation. Further research is needed to identify effective staffing levels for various hospital types as well as examine how the IP role is changing over time.
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Stone PW, Kunches L, Hirschhorn L. Cost of hospital-associated infections in Massachusetts. Am J Infect Control. E-publication ahead of print.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health appointed an Expert Panel to assess the problem of health care–associated infections (HAI) in the state and make recommendations regarding mandatory reporting. At the Expert Panel's request, a cost-of-illness study was conducted using available data sources. In Massachusetts, the excess hospital costs attributed to HAIs were estimated at approximately $233 to $275 million in 2006.