Colorado Health Care Facilities Improve Against Some Infection Types

Statewide infection rates were lower in 2015 than the national average over the last three years for colon surgeries, hip replacements and abdominal hysterectomies.

“I think in a lot of areas, we’re doing well," said Tamara Hoxworth of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. There are areas that we need to focus our efforts on. But it’s good to see that in certain areas, we are better than the national average.”

She says the health department and state's hospital association are addressing some red flags. That includes the infection rates in hospitals for a bacterium called C Diff and for breast surgery. Both were higher than the national average.