Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr;49(4):458-463.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.033. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Facilitators and challenges experienced by nursing homes enrolling in the CDC national health care safety network

Affiliations

Facilitators and challenges experienced by nursing homes enrolling in the CDC national health care safety network

Barbara I Braun et al. Am J Infect Control. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Standardized measurement of health care-associated infections is essential to improving nursing home (NH) resident safety, however voluntary enrollment of NHs in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) requires several steps. We sought to prospectively identify NH structural, process or staff characteristics that affect enrollment and data submission among a cohort of NHs receiving facilitated implementation.

Methods: The evaluation employed a mixed methods approach. The meta-theoretical Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to analyze reported facilitators and challenges. Primary and secondary outcomes were time to NHSN enrollment and data submission, respectively.

Results: Of 36 participating NHs, 27 (75%) completed NHSN enrollment and 21 (58%) submitted 1 or more months of infection data during the 8-month study period. Mean days to complete enrollment was 82 (standard deviation [SD] = 24, range = 51-139) and days to first data submission was 112 (SD = 45, range = 71-245). Characteristics of NH staff liaisons associated with shorter time to enrollment included infection prevention and control knowledge, personal confidence, and responsibility for infection prevention and control activities. Facility characteristics were not associated with outcomes.

Discussion: Time to NHSN enrollment and submission related more to characteristics of the person leading the process than to characteristics of the NH.

Conclusions: External partnerships that provide real-time support and resources are important assets in promoting successful NH participation in NHSN.

Keywords: Infection prevention; Long-term care; National Healthcare Safety Network; Nursing home.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None to report.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Days to NHSN enrollment and data submission for 27 sites.

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital signs: central line−associated blood stream infections—United States, 2001, 2008, and 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60:243–248. - PubMed
    1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chapter 8: long-term care facilities. National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: Road Map to Elimination. Rockville, MD: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion;2013,194–239. Available at: https://health.gov/our-work/health-care-quality/health-care-associated-i.... Accessed June 10, 2020.
    1. Hunter JC, Mu Y, Dumyati GK, et al. Burden of nursing home-onset Clostridium difficile infection in the United States: estimates of incidence and patient outcomes. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2016;3. ofv196. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Anttila A Tracking Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) Using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2018. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/training/2018/ltcf/overview-nhsn-ltcf-508.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2020.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare Facility HAI Reporting Requirements to CMS via NHSN: Current or Proposed Requirements. Atlanta, GA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/cms/cms-reporting-requirements.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2020.