My lede:

More than 1,500 hospitals in 17 states reported 18% fewer central-line associated bloodstream infections than projected, according to a first-ever state-specific infection report released in May by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection-control professionals said the CDC data suggest that physicians and nurses at hospitals are using checklists to better implement guideline-based care and prevent bloodstream infections that kill an estimated 31,000 Americans each year.

“This progress is being led by that process of using checklists; I think it deserves a lot of credit,” said Stephen A. Streed, a board member of the Assn. for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc., representing more than 13,000 members who run infection-control programs.

The whole shebang.