Infection Tracking System Launched by CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed an internet-based solution to document, track, and report nosocomial infections that occur in the healthcare setting. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) supports surveillance of adverse events at healthcare facilities.
The system was developed from an existing CDC effort, the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) system. The NHSN provides institutions with information about means to prevent healthcare associated infections. Recent efforts were completed to update the NHSN system in order to comply with requirements issued by states for mandatory reporting of infection rates.
The system software also supports varied approaches for data analysis. This capability will allow institutions to monitor their own efforts to curb the incidence of hospital acquired infections. The NHSN facilitates data sharing, both within an organizational confines or with a broader audience such as the general public.
At this point in time, the NHSN is already being used by over 600 organizations across 45 states. One of the partners who has agreed to cooperate with the CDC in an effort to prevent MRSA infections is the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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July 2, 2007 Related topics: Product Launches, Quality, Safety, Errors