CDC - Healthcare-associated infections

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Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are infections caused by a wide variety of common and unusual bacteria, fungi, and viruses during the course of receiving medical care.

Medical advances have brought lifesaving care to patients in need, yet many of those advances come with a risk of HAI. These infections related to medical care can be devastating and even deadly. As our ability to prevent HAIs grows, these infections are increasingly unacceptable.

Recent successes in HAI elimination have been very encouraging. Reductions have been demonstrated for other HAIs as well, but much more remains to be done.

Wherever patient care is provided, adherence to infection prevention guidelines is needed to ensure that all care is safe care. This includes traditional hospital settings as well as outpatient surgery centers, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and community clinics. The information on this website is intended to inform patients and healthcare personnel and help move healthcare systems toward elimination of HAIs.

Featured Campaigns

Get Smart for Healthcare Know When Antibiotics Work

One & Only Campaign Safe Injection Practices Coalition

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives

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State Activities to Prevent HAIs The HHS Action Plan includes recommendations for surveillance, research, communication and metrics for measuring progress toward national goals.