FLORENCE, Alabama – North Alabama Medical Center was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review for not having any cases of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). According to data collected by the CMS, only eight hospitals in Alabama have a CAUTI infection rate of zero.

The Healthcare Associated Infections-Hospital database uses measures, developed by the CDC and collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network, that show how often patients contract certain infections during the course of medical treatment. Data was collected from July 2023 to June 2024 and was last updated April 30.

“Achieving zero CAUTI’s is more than a milestone, it’s a reflection of our team’s relentless dedication to patient safety, clinical excellence, and infection prevention best practices,” said Nicole Brewer, Infection Preventionists at NAMC. “I’m incredibly proud of the recognition, but even prouder of the culture of accountability and care that made it possible.”

Only 514 hospitals (out of more than 6,000) in the entire nation were recognized. Lifepoint Health, which features 63 community hospitals, had 10 facilities to receive recognition.

The CDC calculates a standardized infection ratio, which may take into account care location, number of patients with an existing infection, lab methods, hospital affiliation with a medical school, hospital bed size, patient age and patient health. The measures apply to all patients treated in acute care hospitals, including adult, pediatric, neonatal, Medicare and non-Medicare patients, according to the CMS data dictionary.