Critical gaps in knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of healthcare‐associated infections.

The past decade has witnessed an intense interest in healthcare‐associated infections as well as increases in legislation and reporting requirements aimed at decreasing the number of these costly infections. In the next decade, healthcare epidemiology must address major gaps in understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of healthcare‐associated infections and in knowledge of the efficacy of interventions for healthcare‐associated infections and the efficacy in implementing such interventions.