Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States are declining, according to recently published data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC compared data from a 2023 survey of 218 hospitals with 2015 findings from 199 hospitals. While HAIs are still prevalent, patients who participated in the 2023 survey were less likely to encounter an HAI than 2015 participants.

Additional key findings:

• An average of 1 in 38 hospitalized patients were diagnosed with at least one HAI in 2023, vs. 1 in 31 in 2015.
• More than half a million HAI cases were confirmed in the U.S. in 2023.
• The most prevalent HAIs were pneumonia, surgical site infections, and gastrointestinal infections in 2023.
• Medical devices and/or procedures did not account for 61% of HAIs in 2023.
• Other HAIs such as central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and Clostridioides difficile infections are also declining.