Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have been part of health care delivery since antiquity and are major causes of morbidity and mortality today. Attention to building design, operations, hand washing, cleaning, disinfection, and surveillance are proven methods for preventing and controlling HAIs. Yet, strict adherence to guidelines is challenging, and many hospital administrators and infection preventionists ask, “What more can we do? What can we add?” 

This report explores the benefits, risks, tradeoffs, and cost implications of adding antimicrobials to hospital furnishings.