A new Consumer Reports analysis shows there are still a high number of hospitals, namely teaching hospitals, that are failing to properly protect patients from dangerous bacteria, resulting in unacceptably high numbers of central-line bloodstream infections.
Central-line infections concern the intravenous lines used to supply medication, nutrients, and fluids to patients. They can carry bacteria, and essentially feed germs straight into the bloodstream of the patient. The bacteria can then spread to the heart and other organs.
While the highly preventable infections have dropped by 50 percent since 2008, Consumer Reports said central-line infections account for roughly 5 percent of hospitals infections, and are deadly in a quarter of cases. The CDC confirms about 650,000 people develop infections after being admitted to the hospital every year and 75,000 die, making hospital-acquired infections the eighth leading cause of death behind diabetes.
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Additionally, Consumer Reports pointed out central-line infections are the costliest hospital infection to treat, with an average bill of $46,000, while the prevention measures that could thwart them before they happen are not expensive. In general, the infections are almost entirely preventable, Consumer Reports said in a statement.
"Hospitals are moving in the right direction, but progress is slowing and too many hospitals have not adequately addressed the problem over the past five years," says Consumer Reports' Doris Peter, Ph.D.
Consumer Reports investigated 2,000 hospitals for the new report, which identifies the 31 teaching hospitals that with the poorest performance who landed on the "zero tolerance" list for failing to prevent central-line infections in intensive care units from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015. The report also calls out more than 30 who performed the best on this metric.
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"Because teaching hospitals are teaching our next generation of physicians, we think it's critical to monitor them closely. Our review of their performance on controlling central-line infections is very sobering," said Doris Peter, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. "Central-line infections are highly preventable and there are no excuses for poor performance on this metric. It's unfortunate to see so many well-known hospitals, some who tout their top rankings and awards, sitting on the sidelines of one of the biggest triumphs in patient safety."
Twitter: @BethJSanborn