Only roughly 61 percent of infection preventionists correctly identified whether six vignettes fit the definition of a healthcare-associated infection, according to a study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers examined infection preventionists' and hospital epidemiologists' use of HAI definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network when conducting HAI surveillance. Representatives from at least 61 hospitals assessed whether six clinical vignettes met NHSN criteria for an HAI.
Overall, an average of 61.1 percent of respondents correctly characterized the six vignettes according to NHSN definitions. The lowest percentage of correct responses among the vignettes was 27.3 percent. Correct responses were associated with having nursing or medical degrees.
The authors suggest hospital infection preventionists need to better understand NHSN definitions of HAIs so comparisons of HAI rates across hospitals are valid.
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Researchers examined infection preventionists' and hospital epidemiologists' use of HAI definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network when conducting HAI surveillance. Representatives from at least 61 hospitals assessed whether six clinical vignettes met NHSN criteria for an HAI.
Overall, an average of 61.1 percent of respondents correctly characterized the six vignettes according to NHSN definitions. The lowest percentage of correct responses among the vignettes was 27.3 percent. Correct responses were associated with having nursing or medical degrees.
The authors suggest hospital infection preventionists need to better understand NHSN definitions of HAIs so comparisons of HAI rates across hospitals are valid.
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