Final answer:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working to reduce surgical site infections, multidrug-resistant organisms, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) is working to reduce several healthcare-related infections. The infections they are focusing on include:
- Surgical site infections: These are infections that occur in the part of the body where surgery took place. Preventing these infections is important to reduce complications and promote healing.
- Multidrug-resistant organisms: These are bacteria that have become resistant to multiple antibiotics. The USDHHS is working to prevent the spread of these organisms and reduce the number of infections they cause.
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia: This is a type of pneumonia that develops in people who are on ventilators. The USDHHS is working to improve practices in healthcare settings to prevent this infection.
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections: These are infections that occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through a catheter. The USDHHS is working to promote proper catheter care and reduce these infections.
Reducing these infections is important for improving patient safety and reducing healthcare costs.