On May 31, 2006 the Governor of South Carolina signed the Hospital Infections Disclosure Act (HIDA) into law requiring all hospitals within the state to report publicly their rates of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The law specifically requires public reporting of: surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs), and other categories as required by DHEC. On July 1, 2007 SC hospitals began inputting data for CLABSIs in adult medical/surgical ICUs and SSIs for hysterectomies and CABGs. DHEC published its first report of this data on February 1, 2008. On January 1, 2008 additional infection reporting was mandated for CLABSIs in pediatric medical/surgical ICUs and SSIs for cholecystectomies, total hip replacements and total knee replacements. At the same time small hospitals were required to begin reporting CLABSIs in any hospital unit. More information about HIDA and access to the February infections report can be found on the SC DHEC website. The Medical Center’s Infection Control, Prevention and Epidemiology Department has been preparing for HIDA reporting for more than a year. Dr. Cassandra Salgado and Infection Preventionist Beth Rhoton currently serve on the HIDA Advisory Committee. The HIDA Advisory Council chose to use the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for reporting these infections. The hospital’s Infection Control and Prevention staff has undergone CDC training regarding NHSN definitions for HAI and data entry into NHSN. The next report will be published on August 1, 2008 with reports following every 6 months. The HIDA Advisory council will determine which additional HAIs and infection prevention processes will be required to be reported. | 
