Hospitals in Illinois are participating in programs to reduce the number of infections acquired during hospital stays.  While it is difficult to reduce infections to zero, following specific protocols can greatly reduce the risk.

The Hospital Report Card Act (Illinois Public Act 93-563) requires Illinois hospitals to report central line associated bloodstream infections(CLABSIs) occurring in critical care units, also known as intensive care units (ICUs) as well as surgical site infections (SSIs) associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and total knee replacement surgery (KPROs).   Presented below are annual ICU-specific summary data for CLABSI, as well as surgical site infection summary data for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and knee replacement (KPRO) surgeries.  As of January 1, 2012, hospitals are also mandated to report Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infections. 

Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) and Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) 

Presented below are annual ICU-specific summary data for CLABSI, as well as surgical site infection summary data for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and knee replacement (KPRO) surgeries. Superficial and secondary surgical site infections are not included in the summary data below. The Standardized Infection Ratio(SIR), a summary measure used to determine whether the CLABSI and SSI data are statistically different from the national average, is presented. Statewide summaries of CLABSI data arranged by ICU type (adult, pediatric, neonatal) and hospital, as well as SSI data arranged by surgical procedure (CABG, KPRO) and hospital are included. 

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections 

The hospital onset rates of CDI and MRSA based on lab results are presented below. These rates are not adjusted for factors that may affect a facility's rate and therefore should not be used to compare rates between facilities.

Healthcare Facility Onset Incidence Rate of Clostridium difficile is the number of lab results positive for Clostridium difficile identified 4 or more days after a patient was admitted to the facility, divided by number of patient days times 10,000. Testing method is an important factor. Rates presented below are reported either as Molecular or Non-molecular depending on the test type utilized. Use of a molecular test, or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), such as PCR is the preferred testing method and detects more cases. Facilities that use the recommended NAAT/PCR test would therefore have more cases identified (appear to have higher rates) than if they used a less sensitive, non-molecular test such as Enzyme immunoassay (EIA). 

Incidence Rate of Hospital onset Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections is the number of Laboratory-identified MRSA blood stream events occurring hospital- wide summarized as number of unique blood source hospital onset laboratory-identified events identified 4 or more days after a patient was admitted to the facility divided by total number of patient days times 10,000.  

Read more about other types of health care-associated infections in Illinois, including C. difficile, and MRSA.  To learn more about the data collection methods using the CDC's National Health Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance system, read the Report Card methodology.