CDC Invites Feedback on Hospital Infection Tracking Data
Published Date: 5/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The CDC wants your thoughts on their plan to keep collecting important data about infections caught in healthcare settings through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This helps hospitals and health officials spot problems and stop infections. If you have ideas or concerns, send them by July 13, 2026—no extra costs or big changes, just smarter tracking!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
CDC Seeks OMB OK for 3.52M Hours
CDC is asking OMB to approve an estimated 3,519,732 annual burden hours for continuing data collection in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The prior information collection record (approved March 2026) showed 5,896,801 responses, 4,509,135 burden hours, and $263,651,599 in annual cost under OMB Control No. 0920-0666 (expiration 2029-03-31).
Certain Forms Carry Very Large Time Burdens
The NHSN burden table shows some specific forms require very large annual hours: for example, Denominators for Intensive Care Unit/Other locations (Form 57.118) totals 1,650,000 hours annually; Infectious Diseases of Public Health Concern (Form 57.130) totals 388,573 hours annually; Daily Facility Operating Status (Form 57.803) totals 232,748 hours annually; and Dialysis Event (Form 57.502) totals 185,000 hours annually.
Revision of 72 NHSN Data Forms
CDC proposes revisions to 72 existing NHSN data collection forms that include adding, changing, or removing questions and adjusting the estimated time (burden) needed to respond. These revisions will affect the way infection preventionists, pharmacists, IT staff, and others complete NHSN reporting forms.
NHSN Used by 25,000+ Facilities for CMS Reporting
NHSN serves over 25,000 medical facilities (including acute care hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers, ambulatory surgery centers, and facilities in five U.S. territories) and provides the reporting pathway facilities use to comply with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) infection reporting requirements. NHSN also gives facilities real-time data and national benchmarks to identify infection problems and measure prevention progress.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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