The regular reporting of infection rates by hospitals, as recommended in a bill recently passed by the Senate, will provide an important benefit to consumers. It will focus public attention on a problem that has become increasingly troublesome.

Sen. Bill Mescher, R-Berkeley, believes the public notification requirement will encourage hospitals to do a better job of reducing the incidence of infections. Sen. Mescher has repeatedly urged the Legislature to upgrade reporting requirements.

"If they have to report it, they may muster a little more effort to do it right," Sen. Mescher says, regarding the rate of infections and the necessity for measures to prevent its rise.

According to a critic quoted by The Greenville News , available data on hospital infections is several years old ? insufficiently current to help consumers or to guide policy decisions by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Meanwhile, there is a heightened awareness about the hazards posed by infections that occur at hospitals. About 5 percent of patients contract an infection while undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to federal figures reported by the News. Seven states already have approved higher standards for reporting infections.

According to the legislation, data on infections will be submitted to the state every six months by each hospital, and a report will be published annually. The first report, however, won't be available until early 2009 because of the extensive preparation required. An advisory committee will be formed to oversee the process and to help DHEC establish the methodology for collecting and interpreting data.

The legislation will require broad dissemination of each annual report. It is encouraging that the S.C. Hospital Association has endorsed the idea. The state House of Representatives should back the proposal as well, so that the long process of preparing the groundwork can get under way.