CDC Giving $40 million to states to help with HAIs

The CDC has announced it's plans to distribute $40 million to state health departments to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the money will be distributed through cooperative agreements to 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. CDC estimates that every year, Americans contract 1.7 million infections while being treated in hospitals. These infections are associated with approximately 99,000 deaths annually. In addition to the significant toll on patients' lives, HAIs represent an estimated $30 billion in added healthcare costs.

The money is going to be used to maximize prevention efforts like:
* Creating or expanding state and local efforts to implement recommendations in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HAI Action Plan
* Increasing healthcare facilities' and health departments' use of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, a surveillance system that allows HAI data to be tracked, analyzed and compared for prevention efforts
* Hiring and training public health staff to promote and lead HAI prevention initiatives
* Complementing HAI investments from other HHS agencies

To find out more, visit Infection Control Today.