Healthcare-Associated Infections: HAI Types
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care. Patients or residents who have surgical procedures and those with medical devices, such as central lines and urinary catheters, are at risk of developing HAIs.
Below you can find information about the types of HAIs and resources for health care and public health professionals.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary tract that is caused by a tube (urinary catheter) that is placed to drain urine from the bladder.
Bacteria may travel along a urinary catheter and cause an infection in the urethra, bladder, ureters, or kidneys. CAUTIs are the most common type of HAI. Among urinary tract infections acquired in health care settings, 75% are associated with a urinary catheter.
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) CAUTI webpage: Find prevention resources and education for health care professionals and consumers.
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) CAUTI Implementation Guide (PDF): Access links to tools and resources on CAUTI prevention.
- CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) CAUTI webpage: Find more information on the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and how to reduce infection risk.
- CDC CAUTI Prevention Guideline webpage: See recommendations for the prevention of CAUTIs.
- SHEA Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update: View practical recommendations designed to assist acute-care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing CAUTI prevention efforts.
- Wisconsin Long-Term Care Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Toolkit: See resources and tools to standardize the assessment and communication of findings in residents experiencing a change in condition where UTI is suspected; promote the use of active monitoring, delayed urine testing, and delayed antibiotic treatment among residents with low UTI risk; and promote the appropriate use of antibiotics (drug, dose, duration) in residents with high UTI risk.
Central-line associated bloodstream infections
A central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is an infection in the bloodstream that is caused when bacteria or other organisms travel along a tube, also called a central line, that is placed into a major vein to draw blood or give medication.
CLABSIs are a serious type of infection and a major cause of healthcare-associated illness and death.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Toolkit for Reducing Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections: See practical resources and tools for implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention strategies.
- APIC Guide to Preventing CLABSI Infections (PDF): See a guide for implementing CLABSI prevention efforts.
- CDC CLABSI Implementation Guide (PDF): Access links to tools and resources on CLABSI prevention.
- CDC CLABSI webpage: Find more information on the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and how to reduce infection risk.
- CDC Intravascular Catheter-related Infection (BSI) Prevention Guidelines webpage: See recommendations for preventing BSI.
- CDC Prevention and Control of Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Patients: Central Line-associated Blood Stream Infections webpage: See guidelines for preventing CLABSIs in neonatal intensive care units.
- SHEA Strategies to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update: View practical recommendations designed to assist acute-care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing CLABSI prevention efforts.
Clostridioides difficile
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a bacteria that if ingested, can cause severe diarrhea and in more severe cases inflammation of the colon. C. difficile is estimated to cause almost half a million infections in the United States each year.
Most cases of C. difficile occur after using antibiotics. Other risk factors including being over the age of 65, or recently having a prolonged stay in a health care setting, such as a hospital or long-term care facility.
Learn more on the C. difficile webpage
Multidrug-resistant organisms
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are organisms that are resistant to the antibiotics or other drugs that are meant to control them. Since they are resistant to antibiotics, MDROs can be very difficult to treat.
MDROs are commonly transmitted in health care settings, such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. There are many different MDROs, and some are of more concern than others.
Learn more on the reportable MDRO webpage
Surgical site infections
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are infections that occur after surgery, in the area of the body where the procedure took place. SSIs are currently the most frequently reported serious HAI among Wisconsin hospitals.
Many hospitals and quality improvement organizations are working together to reduce these infections. The CDC estimates that implementing evidence-based strategies can prevent approximately 50% of SSIs.
- APIC Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the OR (PDF): Access practical, evidence-based strategies for preventing SSIs.
- CDC Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017: See updated evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of SSIs.
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update: View a document that highlights practical recommendations designed to assist acute-care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing SSI prevention efforts.
HAI data
View HAI data, including the HAI Prevention Program Annual Data Report, for the latest trends and patterns of HAIs in Wisconsin and the U.S.
Preventing HAIs
Implementing basic infection prevention and control practices can help prevent HAIs.
Questions about HAIs? Contact us!
Phone: 608-267-7711 | Fax: 608-261-4976