What is the purpose of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)?

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) serves the critical function of providing data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Its primary aim is to facilitate the tracking, analysis, and reporting of infection data that can help healthcare facilities identify potential issues, implement strategies for improvement, and ultimately enhance patient safety.

By collecting and reporting this data, the NHSN enables healthcare facilities to gauge their performance relative to national benchmarks and to identify trends in infection rates within their settings. Furthermore, the insights derived from the data guide interventions and policies intended to reduce the incidence of HAIs, making the NHSN a vital resource for safeguarding public health in healthcare environments.