Published today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the analysis of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data from acute care hospitals in 12 states found that rates of central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and ventilator-associated events (VAEs) saw significant increases in 2020 compared with 2019, particularly in the second half of the year.

There was also a significant rise in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia.

Prior to 2020, rates of HAIs in US hospitals had been declining since 2015, a decrease that has been attributed to improved infection prevention and control measures. But the surge of COVID-19 patients in 2020—and the diversion of hospital staff and resources to focus on care of those patients—clearly put a dent in those efforts.