Does Mandatory Public Infection Reporting Affect Infection Rates?

This study will explore whether reporting induces hospitals to reduce actual health care-associated infection (HAI) rates, reported rates, or both; whether infection preventionists and consumers use the reports; compare the effectiveness of different reporting schemes; and assess how public health agency choices in implementing these programs affect their success.

The United States suffers from an epidemic of HAIs: 1.7 million annual infections, and 100,000 deaths. Many HAIs are preventable, but hospitals have limited incentives to prevent them. More than 20 states now have laws requiring hospitals to publicly report infection rates, and national reporting is coming.