Healthcare-Associated Infection Course

Each year in the United States, five to ten percent of all patients admitted to a hospital develop healthcare associated infections (HAIs). This translates to almost two million cases of HAI annually, in hospitals alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urinary tract and surgical site infections are the most common HAIs; pneumonia and bloodstream infections are also common. It is the responsibility of every nurse to understand the importance of implementing effective strategies to prevent HAIs in all patient care activities. This course has been designed to help decrease the incidence and burden of HAIs, by providing information about the causes, risk factors, and preventive best practices.