Oregon Hospitals See Spike in Serious Infections Linked to Staffing Problems and Sterile-Procedure Lapses

Oregon hospitals statewide are falling short of national standards for reducing deadly surgical site infections, including a number of medically-related conditions.

According to the Oregon Health Association (OHA), apart from surgical site infections (SSIs), hospitals throughout the state are not reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (a bloodstream bacterium resistant to penicillin-class antibiotics).

SSIs are Caused by Poor Sterilization of Operating Equipment, Breaches in Sterile Techniques, and Bad Hand Hygiene

Deadly SSIs are often caused by improper sterilization of operating equipment, poor hand hygiene by hospital staff, or breaches in sterile technique during a surgical procedure. SSIs are also influenced by patient-related risk factors such as diabetes, immune status, and post-operative care.

However, Oregon hospitals did lower the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among hospitalized patients.

They also met other federal infection reduction goals during 2024, according to data published by the OHA for 61 hospitals in the state. The data helps healthcare providers to identify the areas where they need to improve their infection control efforts.

On Average, 2.6 Patients Are Infected in Oregon Hospitals Daily

On average, 31 patients are infected daily in U.S. hospitals. While the OHA strives to prevent infections, 957 cases were reported in state hospitals in 2024, and an average of 2.62 patients were infected daily.

With the exception of hysterectomies, Oregon hospitals performed worse than the 2015 baseline for four surgical site infections – colon procedures, coronary artery bypass grafts, and hip and knee replacements.

However, hospitals did improve on the 2015 baseline for catheter-associated urinary tract infections, *Clostridiodes difficile infections, as well as previously mentioned hysterectomy procedures. (*bacterial infections of the colon causing potential life-threatening damage to the intestines.)

To support improvement of healthcare-related infections at Oregon facilities, the OHA conducts studies to assess and understand statewide and regional trends, provide one-on-one infection control technical assistance to healthcare facilities statewide, and collaborates with community-based organizations offering infection control education to prevent infections associated with healthcare.

OHA says families, friends, and the public visiting hospitals can help prevent HAIs by washing their hands frequently, remaining alert to signs of infection, and notifying the healthcare provider of these signs and symptoms.

Hospital visitors should also follow facility infection prevention policies and procedures, and refrain from visiting a hospital patient if they are unwell. Visit the website to learn more about the OHA’s HAI Program.

Nursing Staff Shortages Contribute to the Ongoing Problem of Infection Containment in Hospitals

Contributing to higher rates of preventable healthcare-associated infections are Oregon’s ongoing hospital staff shortages, particularly among nurses and infection prevention specialists, which limit the ability to maintain rigorous control protocols and surveillance.

Of 10 HAIs identified by the OHA, eight had higher incidences during periods of staff shortages, as did central-line-associated bloodstream infections.