Both are Vital to the Safe Delivery of Healthcare
Impact on Patient Safety
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly threaten patient safety, causing longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Effective prevention, including strict hand hygiene, proper equipment disinfection and sterilization, and PPE use, is essential. Effective stewardship programs help preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics, improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of resistant bacteria. Ensuring safety requires collaboration between healthcare workers and patients to follow these measures.
hospitalized patients have at least 1 healthcare-associated infection on any given day and at any given time¹
infections and billions of dollars in excess health care costs are related to healthcare-associated infections across the U.S. every year¹
antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result¹
is the estimated annual national cost to treat infections caused by six antimicrobial-resistant germs frequently found in health care¹
Summary of Requirements by Program
IC Chapter Summary for HAP/CAH
IC.04.01.01, EP 1-5
This standard and elements of performance focus on hospital-wide infection prevention and control program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. The elements of performance address the program’s leader(s) and responsibilities, and requirements for the program’s policies and procedures and the scope.
IC.05.01.01, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on the hospital’s governing body being accountable for the infection prevention and control program, ensuring its implementation, performance, and sustainability.
IC.06.01.01, EP 1-5
This standard and elements of performance focus on the hospital’s implementation of its infection prevention and control program, including a proactive risk assessment to help organizations determine the scope of surveillance and implement the appropriate level of infection prevention and control activities.
IC.07.01.01, EP 1, 2
This standard and elements of performance focus on protocols to enhance hospitals’ and critical access hospitals’ preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens.
Antibiotic Stewardship for HAP/CAH
MM.09.01.01, EP 10-21
This standard and elements of performance address the necessary structures and activities for implementing an effective antibiotic stewardship program. Requirements focus on appointing a program leader, convening a multidisciplinary oversight committee, providing staff education and training, monitoring antibiotic use and resistance patterns, and implementing evidence-based strategies to optimize prescribing practices and improve antibiotic stewardship activities.
