Rome Health has been recognized as one of just 312 hospitals nationwide to achieve a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection rate of zero, according to the latest Healthcare-Associated Infections Hospital dataset released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The CMS Healthcare-Associated Infections Hospital database uses measures developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network to track how often patients acquire certain infections during the course of medical treatment. The latest data reflects performance from July 2024 through June 2025 and was updated on May 13.
MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics and can cause serious bloodstream infections, particularly among hospitalized patients. Preventing these infections requires rigorous adherence to evidence-based practices and a strong culture of patient safety.
"This achievement reflects the commitment of every member of our care team to protecting our patients," said Katie Friot, MPH, RN, CIC, Director of Infection Prevention at Rome Health. "Achieving a zero MRSA bloodstream infection rate is the result of following evidence-based infection prevention practices, ongoing staff education and training, continuous quality improvement efforts, and regular monitoring to ensure we are delivering the safest care possible. Every patient deserves care in an environment where infection prevention is a top priority, and we are proud of the work our team does every day to make that a reality."
The CDC calculates a standardized infection ratio (SIR) to compare hospitals' performance while accounting for factors such as care location, patient characteristics, hospital size, laboratory methods, and teaching status. The measures include all patients treated in acute care hospitals, including adult, pediatric, neonatal, Medicare, and non-Medicare populations.
Healthcare-associated infection prevention is a cornerstone of Rome Health's commitment to quality care. Through ongoing surveillance, multidisciplinary collaboration, staff education, and adherence to nationally recognized infection prevention guidelines, Rome Health continues to advance initiatives that improve patient outcomes and provide the safest possible care for the community.