NHSN
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | National Healthcare Safety Network |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
NHSN stands for National Healthcare Safety Network, an infectious disease abbreviation.
CDC surveillance system used by tens of thousands of US hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing homes and other facilities to report healthcare-associated infections, antibiotic use and resistance, and healthcare worker vaccination. Its definitions underpin public reporting and Medicare payment programs.
Example: Q3 NHSN report: CLABSI standardized infection ratio 0.62, below national baseline.
Usage notes
NHSN was launched in 2005, combining earlier CDC surveillance systems. Results are often expressed as a standardized infection ratio (SIR), comparing observed infections with the number predicted from national data. Many states and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services require facilities to submit data through it.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- MERS – Middle East respiratory syndrome
- MIC – Minimum inhibitory concentration
- MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- MSM – Men who have sex with men
- MSSA – Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
- N95 – N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- NSTI – Necrotizing soft tissue infection
- NTM – Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- OI – Opportunistic infection
- OPAT – Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
- PAPR – Powered air-purifying respirator
- PCP – Pneumocystis pneumonia
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.