Joint Commission Updates on HAI-related National Patient Safety Goal on HAIs

The Joint Commission has revised several of its requirements for National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 7, which focuses on the issue of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). The revisions go into effect on January 1, 2018, and apply to hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAH), and nursing care centers (NCC).

NPSG 07.03.01: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO)

•    NCCs are now expected to follow the MDRO NPSG.07.03.01. Nursing homes experience a high rate of MDROs such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). This was particularly concerning because nursing home patients were bringing MDROs to hospitals and vice versa.
•    The Joint Commission is adding a new infection, carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) to NPSG.07.03.01. This change applies to hospitals, CAH, and NCCs. 

NPSG 07.04.01: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)

•    The EPs for the NPSG 07.04.01 have been reordered.
•    EP 11 was revised to specify the use of chlorhexidine for antiseptic skin preparation.
•    For both NPSG 07.03.01 and NPSG 07.04.01, facilities are now allowed to determine how frequently they need to re-educate staff and licensed independent practitioners on MDROs and CLABSIs.