ECRI Institute's "Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2021" report includes multiple safety challenges associated with infections.

ECRI states that it creates the annual list of patient safety concerns to help healthcare organizations proactively identify and respond to safety threats. With each of the top 10 patient safety concerns, ECRI provides guidance (i.e., "action recommendations") to help organizations address these areas of concern.

Coming in second on the list is "Emergency Preparedness and Response in Aging Services." Among the action recommendations included in the report: "Adhere to strict infection prevention and control precautions."

Third on the list is "Pandemic Preparedness Across the Health System." ECRI notes infection prevention and control is a key component of pandemic preparedness.

Fourth is "Supply Chain Interruptions." An action recommendation: "Determine which devices are appropriate to reuse when feasible and follow all proper disinfection protocols."

In seventh is "Improvised Use of Medical Devices." One of the action recommendations: "Analyze device impact on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and other facility structures through an infection control risk assessment."

Coming in ninth is "Peripheral Vascular Harm." ECRI notes, "Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most widely used invasive devices among inpatients. Severe cases of PIVC infection require intensive care or long-term care. They can lead to extended lengths of stay and antibiotic treatments — and even death."

Last on the list is "Infection Risk from Aerosol- Generating Procedures." ECRI notes, "Aerosol-generating procedures have always posed risks to healthcare workers, but COVID-19 has amplified these risks. COVID-19 spreads to humans via exposure to respiratory droplets. Comparisons with two similar viruses, SARS and MERS, suggest that aerosolization of particles — and thus potential infection of clinicians during aerosol-generating procedures — is possible."

To address this final challenge, ECRI states, "Infection control leaders across the continuum of care should assess practitioners’ safety during aerosol-generating procedures and work to develop, implement, and enforce appropriate precautions."

Taking the top spot on the 2021 list is "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare."

The annual list of patient safety challenges is compiled using data on patient safety events and concerns and on the "judgment of interdisciplinary patient safety experts from inside and outside ECRI."

To download ECRI’s report, go here.

The top 10 patient safety concerns list of 2020 included challenges concerning sterile processing and antimicrobial stewardship.