Statements from local hospitals on infections

Statements from some local hospitals in response to inquiries about hospital-acquired infection rates.

Duke University Health System
Erin Pratt, spokeswoman

"Because we are committed to excellence in patient care, the hospitals in the Duke University Health System do track confirmed cases of hospital-acquired infections. While these infections occur in all hospitals across the country, over the past several years the incidence of these infections has been decreasing within Duke University Hospital. The prevention of all such infections continues to be one of our primary commitments to our patients and their families."

Rex Healthcare
Kerry Grace Heckle, spokeswoman

"Patient safety is the number one priority at Rex. It's the reason why Rex was named a Thomson Top 100 hospital (the only hospital in NC named to this prestigious list) and a Thomson Reuters Performance Improvement Leader (one of only 16 hospitals in the country named to both Thomson lists).

"At Rex, we track 38 different types of surgical procedures and drug-resistant organisms. We use that information to determine whether or not someone acquired an infection at Rex, at another institution or out in the community. This assists us with prevention, as we continuously monitor and revise our processes to keep these rates low.

"Rex takes a proactive approach with surveillance mechanisms; we have been very aggressive with evidence-based practices put forth by the CDC to reduce risk to patients. Rex Healthcare's infection control rates are lower than most national benchmarks. Not every hospital has the same surveillance mechanisms, and so there's not always an apples to apples comparison."

UNC Health Care

No response

WakeMed
Heather Monackey, spokeswoman

"VHA, a consortium of hospitals working to achieve best practices in many different areas from purchasing to hospital acquired infections, recently recognized WakeMed for reducing MRSA infections by 56 percent in only one year.

"We have less than 1 case of MRSA per 1,000 patient days.

"We have also recently completed a study in our trauma program to reduce catheter related blood stream infections and have realized a 74 percent reduction. This program has been subsequently rolled out to all of our critical care units.

"WakeMed is also a Ventilator Associated Pneumonia center of excellence."