Central Florida Hospitals Recognize Achievement in Infection Prevention Reduction

The importance of a commitment by organizational leadership to improving "best practices" in infection prevention is evident as two large hospital systems in Central Florida have reported major changes in their infection rates for 2013-2014, according to an Orlando Sentinel column.

After forming teams that focus on various aspects of infection prevention, the Orlando Health and Florida Hospital systems reported very promising results that can serve as a model for hospitals nationwide as the federal government steps up its efforts to work with healthcare facilities to reduce morbidity and mortality resulting from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

"According to hospital research, Orlando Health's Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and South Seminole Hospital had no cases of catheter-associated urinary-tract infections in 2013 and 2014. Dr. P. Phillips Hospital also reduced Clostridium difficile infection by more than 40 percent from 2013 to 2014. [Dr. Thomas Kelley, interim chief quality officer at Orlando Health] said the hospital system has expanded the practices that yield these results to all of its hospitals."

In addition, "Florida Hospital reported that it reduced central-line infections systemwide by 77 percent from 2013 to 2014."