A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is an infection that is acquired during the delivery of health care. Prevention and control of these infections in hospitals is a priority for Nova Scotia and is key to keeping patients safe.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and IWK Health Centre publicly report key patient safety indicators in accordance with the Patient Safety Act. These include rates of healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection, hand hygiene adherence rates in acute care facilities, healthcare-associated MRSA bloodstream rates in acute care hospitals, central line-associated bloodstream infections in ICUs and healthcare worker influenza immunization rates.
The following protocols for use by the NSHA and IWK provide a standardized process for collection and reporting:
- Protocol for Hand Hygiene Adherence Monitoring in Nova Scotia
- Protocol for Healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile Infection Surveillance in Nova Scotia (acute care facilities)
- Protocol for Healthcare-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bloodstream Infection Surveillance in Acute Care Hospitals in Nova Scotia
- Protocol for Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Surveillance in Intensive Care Units in Nova Scotia
- Protocol for Healthcare Worker Influenza Immunization Surveillance in Acute Care Hospitals in Nova Scotia
You can find the results of these patient safety indicators on the Public Reporting of Patient Safety Indicators webpage.