Healthcare-associated infections studies project: an American Journal of Infection Control and National Healthcare Safety Network data quality collaboration-LabID Clostridium Difficile event 2013.

This is the first in a series of case studies that will be published in American Journal of Infection Control following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definition update of 2013. These cases reflect some of the complex patient scenarios infection professionals encounter during daily surveillance of health care-associated infections using NHSN definitions. Answers to the questions posed and immediate feedback in the form of answers and explanations are available at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AJIC-NHSN-LbId2013. All individual participant answers will remain confidential, although it is the authors' hope to share a summary of the findings at a later date. Cases, answers, and explanations have been reviewed and approved by NHSN staff. Active participation is encouraged and recommended. Review/reference Chapter 12-Multidrug-resistant organism &C difficile infection module protocol, of the NHSN Patient Safety Component Manual (http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/pscManual/12pscMDRO_CDADcurrent.pdf), for information you may need to answer the case study questions.