INDIANAPOLIS -- Two Indianapolis hospitals are among the country's worst at avoiding infections, according to a new study by Consumer Reports.
The two hospitals -- Eskenazi Health and Indiana University Health -- are two of the 31 worst-scoring teaching hospitals in the United States.
The list was calculated by analyzing the number of central line infections from Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2015, the most recent federal data publicly available.
The central line is a catheter that goes into a vein in your chest, arm or groin and carries nutrients and medicine into your body. Central line infections can be very serious and result in thousands of deaths each year, according to the CDC.
Both Eskenazi and IU Health were rated below average in avoiding MRSA infections in these categories. One of the most serious types of infections because it's resistant to many types of antibiotic and can lead to sepsis or even blood infections.
Indiana University Health hospital released the following statement in response to the report:
“The organization applauds transparency and is highly focused on efforts to address this important issue. We have achieved a substantial reduction of cases in the past several years due to renewed, intensive training for every care provider and the use of advanced technology. The health and safety of our patients remain our highest priority.”
Eskenazi was also given a below-average rating on the "Communication about drug information" category.
They released the following statement on Monday:
"Eskenazi Health is continuously working to eliminate infections altogether and has made a concerted effort to drive down infections associated with central lines, resulting in a 90 percent reduction since 2014. Current data would place Eskenazi Health on the list of “Top Performing” hospitals, with central line infections being reduced to approximately two out of nearly 18,700 admissions to the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital annually. Staff and provider input and engagement have been key to our successful effort to reduce central line infections."
