Program seeks to reduce ICU infections

U.S. health officials are giving nearly $3 million to the American Hospital Association to help reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in hospital intensive care units. The grant from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will be used over three years to roll out a program designed to reduce these infections nationwide. When the safety program was tested in more than 100 Michigan intensive care units, infection rates dropped dramatically. Over three months, more than 50% of the participating hospitals saw their ICU infection rates drop to zero.