Approximately 700,000 health-care–associated infections (HAIs) occurred in 2011, affecting approximately one in 25 hospitalized patients. HAIs, including central line–associated blood stream infections), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) surgical-site infections (SSI), and Clostridium difficile, are reported using a standardized infection ratio (SIR). The SIR is a summary measure used to track HAIs over time. It compares actual HAI rates in a facility or state with baseline rates in the general U.S. population and adjusts for several risk factors found to be most associated with differences in infection rates.

In 2010, the national standardized infection ratio for CAUTI changed 6% from the year before (from a baseline of 1.00 to a SIR of 0.94) and was a SIR of 0.93 in 2011. However, in 2012, the SIR for CAUTI was 1.03, surpassing the baseline levels.

Unlike these other HAIs, the incidence of invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has been monitored based on the infection rate per 100,000 population. From 2008 to 2012, the incidence rate of health-care–associated invasive MRSA infections changed from 27.08 infections per 100,000 populations in 2008 to 18.74 infections per 100,000 population in 2012.

Review the findings on Hospital Associated Infections and then answer the five questions below. (10 points)

A. Is it a process or outcomes study?

B. Why?

C. A SIR or standardized infection ratio is similar to a risk ratio with 1 being the baseline and changes over time can be greater or less than 1. Please interpret the changes in urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in this study.

D. What type of changes in invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred in this study? How do you interpret them?

E. As a health care administrator, given these SIR rates, should you be worried about either of these infections? Why?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

A It is an outcome B Since it shows information regarding to the results of an occurrence for instan... View the full answer