CDC Data Shows 27% Drop in U.S. Hospital-Acquired Infections, But Key Challenges Remain

A landmark CDC survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals a 27% decline in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across U.S. hospitals from 2015 to 2023. Analyzing data from over 200 hospitals, researchers found the overall daily prevalence of patients with at least one HAI fell from 3.2% to 2.6%.

This significant progress was primarily driven by targeted device and pathogen reductions. Clostridioides difficile infection rates dropped by more than half, alongside major reductions in central catheter-associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Improved diagnostic testing specificity and enhanced infection control protocols contributed heavily to these gains.

Despite overall improvements, an estimated 471,555 patients suffered from an HAI in 2023, highlighting persistent clinical challenges. Non-device-related conditions continue to account for over 60% of all hospital infections. Pneumonia remains the most prevalent HAI—with nearly two-thirds of cases occurring in non-ventilated patients—due to complex risk factors and a lack of standardized electronic surveillance definitions. Furthermore, surgical-site infections saw a slight uptick, underscoring the urgent need for refined preventive strategies alongside continuous surveillance.

Short, A. (2026, August 20). CDC: Hospital-acquired infections down 27% in U.S. MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/criticalcare/infectioncontrol/122210