A federal advisory panel has issued guidance for policymakers
and others creating public reporting systems for health
care-associated infections, noting insufficient evidence exists
to recommend mandatory reporting. The guidance from the
Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends
such systems use established public health surveillance
methods, appropriate measures and infection control experts
in their design; phase in the measures gradually; and provide
regular, confidential feedback to health care providers so that
they can improve their performance.