Dive Brief:

• The CDC's updated National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report indicates some significant progress, including a 46% decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) between 2008 and 2013. 
• In this report, the CDC presents data on CLASBI, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), select surgical site infections (SSI), hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections (C. difficile) and hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia (bloodstream infections).
• Other highlights include a 19% decrease in SSIs related to the 10 select procedures tracked in the report between 2008 and 2013. 

Dive Insight:

More than 14,500 hospitals and other healthcare facilities provide data to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network for this report. Based on the data, it looks like hospitals are doing a better job of identifying problem areas, measuring progress of prevention efforts and reducing HAIs. However, on a dismal note, the CDC said that while progress has been made, the nation did not reach goals it set in 2013. "More action is needed at every level of public health and healthcare to improve patient safety and eliminate infections that commonly threaten hospital patients," said the agency.