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For decades it has been a common practice to rate the impact of healthcare acquired infections tracked by the CDC in the U.S., and by similar organizations around the world. A focus for preventing these infections gathered significant momentum by July of 2008. The Steering Committee for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections was created under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The group released an initial action plan in 2009, which made its focus on prevention in acute care hospitals, then ambulatory surgical centers, then end-stage renal disease hospitals.In April 2011, HHS launched a goal of decreasing HAIs by 40% compared with 2010 rates, with 1.8 million fewer injuries to patients and more than 60,000 lives saved over the next three years. Ten strategies were developed and implemented - designed to eventually end all HAI's. These include engagement with:

 
• Frontline clinicians
• Healthcare executives
• Healthcare administrators
• Clinical leaders
• Healthcare Advocates
• The government
 

A growing number of medical devices are utilizing an inherent antimicrobial material approach to provide added performance in a manner that addresses infection risks to patients. Devices like in-dwelling urinary or vascular access catheters, IV components, wound dressings,  medical equipment, and implantable devices, all are currently marketed as containing  properties to minimize the risk of infection. The question remains; is this enough? With the extensive use of textiles within the hospital environment the concern over the transference of bacteria from one patient to the next on these surfaces need to be addressed in a more extensive manner. More information about how antimicrobial technologies have been shown to reduce bacterial growth in textiles curtailing transference can be obtained by members through the IAC.