Healthcare-Associated Infections

The national goal is to prevent, reduce, and ultimately eliminate healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). South Dakota is actively engaged, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in working to address the issue of HAI prevention.

Subscribe to SD’s HAI ListServ

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HAIs are infections that patients get while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. They are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the U.S. and are associated with a substantial increase in healthcare costs each year. HAIs occur in all types of care settings, including:

• Acute care within hospitals
• Same-day surgical centers
• Ambulatory outpatient care in healthcare clinics
• Long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities)

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are some of the most common HAIs.

In hospitals, HAIs lead to extended hospital stays, contribute to increased medical costs, and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Common HAIs patients get in hospitals include:

• Central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• Clostridium difficile infections
• Pneumonia
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections
• Surgical site infections
• Urinary tract infections

South Dakota Infection Control Conference

Information about South Dakota Infection Control Conference (SDICC)

The SDICC is a yearly event intended to provide continuing education in infection prevention to all persons with an interest in or responsibilities related to the infection control field in the state of South Dakota and the surrounding areas.

Conference Objective

Provide Continuing Education in infection prevention

Who Should Attend?

All persons with an interest in or responsibilities related to the infection control field in the state of South Dakota and the surrounding areas.

Related Resources

• Guidance and Recommended Resources for Infection Prevention Partners
• HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections
• Antibiotic stewardship resources
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Surgical site infections (SSI)
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
• Clostridium difficile infection (CDifficile)
• National Healthcare Safety Network
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - HAI Information
• Hospital Compare - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Nursing Home Compare - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services