Shifting Landscape of Healthcare-Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistant Infection Reporting Policy, 2005–2019

Abstract

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a serious threat to patient safety; they account for substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Healthcare practices, such as inappropriate use of antimicrobials, can also amplify the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Data collected to target HAI prevention and antimicrobial stewardship efforts and measure progress are an important resource for assuring transparency and accountability in healthcare, tracking adverse outcomes, investigating healthcare practices that may spread or protect against disease, detecting and responding to the spread of resistant pathogens, preventing infections, and saving lives. Methods: We discuss 3 healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial Resistant infection (HAI-AR) reporting types: NHSN HAI-AR reporting, reportable diseases, and nationally notifiable diseases. HAI-AR reporting requirements outline facilities and data to report to NHSN and the health department to comply with state laws. Reportable diseases are those that facilities, providers, and laboratories are required to report to the health department. Nationally notifiable diseases are those reported by health departments to the CDC for nationwide surveillance and analysis as determined by Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the CDC. Data presented are based on state and federal policy; NHSN data are based on CDC reporting statistics. Results: Since the 2005 launch of the CDC NHSN and publication of federal advisory committee HAI reporting guidance, most states have established policies stipulating healthcare facilities in their jurisdiction report HAIs and resistant infections to the NHSN to gain access to those data, increasing from 2 states in 2005, to 18 in 2010, and to 36 states, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia in 2019. Reporting policies and NHSN participation expanded greatly following the 2011 inception of CMS HAI quality reporting requirements, with several states aligning state requirements with CMS reporting. States listing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) as a reportable disease increased from 7 in 2013 to 41 states and the District of Columbia in 2019. Vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA) was added as a nationally notifiable disease in 2004, carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE) was added in 2018, and Candida auris clinical infections were added in 2019. The CDC and most jurisdictions with HAI reporting mandates issue public reports based on aggregate state data and/or facility-level data. States may also alert healthcare providers and health departments of emerging threats and to assist in notifying patients of potential exposure. Conclusions: Through efforts by health departments, facilities, patient advocates, partners, the CDC, and other federal agencies, HAI-AR reporting has steadily increased. Although reporting laws and data uses vary between jurisdictions, data provided serves as valuable tools to inform prevention.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None