From routine surgeries to prolonged hospital stays, patients are confronted with more than just the ailments they seek to cure—HAIs lurk as an ever-present threat. Understanding the complexities and risks associated with these infections is crucial for safeguarding both patients and healthcare providers, and here we will share with you the threat of HAIs
1. Mortality Rates:
HAIs contribute to thousands of deaths each year globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in high-income countries, around 7% of patients in developed countries and up to 10% in developing countries acquire at least one HAI during their hospital stay. Mortality rates associated with some types of HAIs can be as high as 25%.
2. Antibiotic Resistance:
HAIs are a significant driver of antibiotic resistance, which is a growing global health threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in U.S. acute-care hospitals are unnecessary or inappropriate, contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
3. Public Health Concerns:
Some HAIs, such as healthcare-associated MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections, have the potential to spread beyond healthcare settings, posing a broader public health risk.
4. Workforce Impact:
HAIs also affect healthcare workers, leading to increased absenteeism, burnout, and decreased productivity. This can further strain healthcare systems already facing staffing shortages.
Let's review some statistics together:
How many people get HAIs?
Approximately 1 out of 25 patients who seek treatment at a healthcare facility will acquire an infection unrelated to the issue for which they sought help. [i]
Many patients who survive an HAI live altered lives that include long-term medical care and treatment. Some healthcare-associated infections are shown to increase the hospital readmission rate within 30 days of discharge by 60%. [ii]
How many deaths are caused by HAIs?
The numbers are staggering – 1.7 million patients will acquire at least one of these infections, and 99,000 will die annually. [iii] This is the equivalent of a 275-person passenger jet crashing to the ground every day. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects antibiotic-resistant infections to be the leading cause of death by 2050. [v]
How are HAIs spread?
When patients, visitors, or healthcare workers touch contaminated surfaces, they can transmit the microbes to another person or themselves. In the healthcare environment, many assume surfaces that look clean are safe, yet this is not always the case. An estimated 20-40% of healthcare-associated infections have been attributed to cross-infection via the hands of healthcare personnel who have become contaminated from direct contact with patients or by touching contaminated healthcare surfaces. [vi]
