Indirect Versus Direct Standardization Methods for Reporting Healthcare-Associated Infections: An Analysis of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Maryland

Whether healthcare-associated infection data should be presented using indirect (current CMS/CDC methodology) or direct standardization remains controversial. We applied both methods to central-line-associated bloodstream infection data from 45 acute-care hospitals in Maryland from 2012 to 2014. We found that the 2 methods generate different hospital rankings with payment implications. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:989-992.