Did you know... ?
- Around 9% of patients have a healthcare associated infection (HCAI) at any one time (that's 100,000+ infections each year) 1.
- It is estimated that 10% of patients with a HCAI may die as a result 2.
- HCAI is becoming harder to treat - MRSA poses one of the biggest challenges to infection control and in many hospitals it is now endemic 1.
- HCAI may be costing the NHS as much as £1bn each year 1.
- Many HCAIs can be avoided by simple infection control precautions.
- Reducing HCAI would bring significant patient benefits and save as much as £150m per annum 1.
References
1. National Audit Office (2000) The Management and Control of Hospital acquired infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England. NAO:London
2. Haley, RW (1986) Managing hospital infection control for cost effectiveness. A strategy for reducing infectious complications. American Hospital Publishing, Chicago.
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