Feds Find Wide Variation in Serious Infections Linked To Catheters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the source of the data CMS is publishing on its Hospital Compare website, says there were about 41,000 infections throughout hospitals linked to central lines in 2009. A line that hasn't been cleaned or is inserted incorrectly can lead to germs getting into a patients' bloodstream. CMS says treating these infections adds about $17,000 to a hospital stay.
About a fourth of the patients die from the infection, which should be preventable if hospitals follow cautionary guidelines. As required by the 2010 federal health law, Medicare is gearing up to financially penalize hospitals with high rates of infections that are caused by the institutions.

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