SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is among just 312 hospitals across the country to record no MRSA bloodstream infections during the latest federal reporting period.
The recognition is based on hospital infection data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The figures cover July 2024 through June 2025 and were updated May 13.
It is an important patient safety benchmark.
MRSA, short for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacteria that is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. It can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening bloodstream infections, especially among hospitalized patients.
“Achieving zero MRSA bloodstream infections over an entire reporting period is the result of thousands of intentional actions taken by our team every day,” according to Megan Blonigen, an SSM Health infection preventionist. “From bedside caregivers to environmental services staff, everyone plays a role in reducing infection risk and creating a safer experience for our patients.”
The zero-infection rate is the result of staff members following proven prevention practices, along with continued education, training and regular monitoring. She also pointed to the hospital’s ongoing quality improvement efforts.
“While patients may not see the many safeguards in place to prevent infections, they benefit from them every day,” Blonigen says. “We are proud to provide care in an environment where safety is embedded in every step of the patient experience.”
The federal Healthcare Associated Infections Hospital database tracks how often patients acquire certain infections while receiving medical treatment. The measurements were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with information collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network.
Hospitals are compared using what is called a standardized infection ratio. That calculation takes several factors into account, including the size of the hospital, where the patient received care, patient characteristics, laboratory methods and whether the facility is a teaching hospital.
The numbers include all patients treated in acute care hospitals, not just those covered by Medicare. Adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients are included.
Infection prevention at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital remains a major part of its patient care efforts. That work includes continued surveillance, cooperation among hospital departments, staff education and compliance with nationally recognized safety guidelines.
Date posted: August 12, 2026