Hospital-acquired or nosocomial infections (defined as those not present or incubating at the time of admission to the hospital) and other health care-associated infections affect an estimated 1.7 million pts, cost $28-33 billion, and contribute to 99,000 deaths in U.S. hospitals each year. Although efforts to lower infection risks have been challenged by the growing numbers of immunocompromised pts, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungal and viral superinfections, and invasive procedures and devices, the “zero-tolerance” viewpoint of consumer advocates holds that nearly all health care-associated infections should be avoidable. Accordingly, federal legislation now exists to prevent U.S. hospitals from upgrading Medicare charges to pay hospital costs resulting from at least 14 specific nosocomial events.