HARRISBURG — The number of Pennsylvania patients who contracted infections during their hospital stays declined by nearly 8 percent in 2007, according to a new state report that provides the first complete year-to-year comparison of infection rates.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council found that 27,949 patients picked up an infection in 2007, down from 30,237 in 2006. The council is an independent research agency that monitors hospitals' quality and finances.

The number of infected patients in 2007 accounted for 2 percent of the roughly 1.6 million patients whose cases were examined at Pennsylvania's 165 general hospitals. It reflected an infection rate of 17.7 infections per 1,000 patients, down from 19.2 infections per 1,000 in 2006, the council said in a report released today.

Figures supplied by hospitals for previous years were incomplete.

"It is only a two-year snapshot, so future reporting will be important to observe to see if the decline continues," council spokesman Joe Martin said.

For the first time, the council was able to compare two years of data for all types of infections that hospitals are required by law to report to the state.

Urinary tract infections were the most common in both years, followed by gastrointestinal infections.

The rates of most types of infections decreased in 2007 except for gastrointestinal infections, which remained the same.

About 3,400 of all infected patients, or 12 percent, died in 2007, reflecting 300 fewer deaths than in 2006.

In 2005, Pennsylvania became the first state in the country to publicize infection rates. It is among 25 states with laws requiring public reporting of infections, according to Consumer's Union's Stop Hospital Infections campaign.