NEJM: CDC Survey Finds Hospital-Acquired Infections Decline Since 2015, But More Than Half a Million Remain

20 Jul NEJM: CDC Survey Finds Hospital-Acquired Infections Decline Since 2015, But More Than Half a Million Remain

Dr. Nora Chea

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Dr. Chea: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant threat to the safety of patients in U.S. hospitals and cost billions of dollars annually. Preventing HAIs continues to be a top priority of CDC and other federal agencies. In 2023, CDC, in collaboration with 10 Emerging Infections Program (EIP) sites, conducted a point prevalence survey to assess changes in HAI prevalence compared with a similar survey conducted in 2015.

The 2023 survey included 13,653 patients across 218 hospitals in 10 states. Trained staff reviewed medical records using National Healthcare Safety Network definitions to identify HAIs.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Dr. Chea: The new survey data show that, in 2023, on any given day about 1 in 38 hospitalized patients had at least one HAI, compared with 1 in 31 patients in 2015. Even after accounting for differences in the patients included in the two surveys, patients in the 2023 survey were less likely to experience an HAI than patients in the 2015 survey.

The lower prevalence of HAIs we observed in 2023 compared with 2015 suggests that national HAI prevention efforts are succeeding — with public health and healthcare partners contributing to this progress.

MedicalResearch.com: What infections were most commonly healthcare-associated in 2023 versus 2015?

Dr. Chea: In the 2023 survey, pneumonia, surgical-site infection, and gastrointestinal infection were the most common HAIs. Most HAIs (61%) were not associated with devices such as central lines and urinary catheters or procedures. In 2023, there were significant reductions in central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and Clostridioides difficile infections compared with 2015.

MedicalResearch.com: What enhanced preventive measures can be undertaken to reduce this incidence?

Dr. Chea: While this news is promising, there were still more than half a million HAIs in 2023. Hospitals and healthcare settings must continue to implement proven infection prevention and control practices, including those for pneumonia prevention — for example, evidence-based practices to prevent pneumonia — and for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention, including the 2017 Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection and the 2022 Update to the SHEA/APIC/IDSA Strategies. Healthcare settings should also regularly review HAI surveillance data for improvement opportunities.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Dr. Chea: The progress documented in this survey reflects the sustained, collaborative work of public health agencies, healthcare facilities, infection preventionists, and frontline clinicians across the country. Continued vigilance and commitment to evidence-based prevention practices will be essential to further reducing the burden of HAIs for patients in U.S. hospitals.

Citation:
Health Care–Associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals, 2023 versus 2015
Nora Chea, M.D., Rongxia Li, Ph.D., Taniece Eure, M.P.H., Rebecca Alkis Ramirez, M.P.H., Joelle Nadle, M.P.H., Jane E. Lee, M.P.H., Monica Lehmann, M.P.H., and Cheri T. Grigg, D.V.M., M.P.H.
N Engl J Med 2026;395:255–266. Published July 15, 2026. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2510881

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Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD