Infectious Diseases: Control and Prevention

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAIs)

Healthcare-associated Infection (HAIs) is infections that patients get while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions, and many HAIs are preventable. Modern healthcare employs many types of invasive devices and procedures to treat patients and to help them recover. Infections can be associated with procedures (like surgery) and also the devices used in medical procedures, like catheters or ventilators. HAIs are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and are associated with a substantial increase in health care costs each year. At any one time in the United States, 1 out of every 25 hospitalized patients are affected by an HAI.