Rising rates of MRSA and others.
The most prevalent healthcare associated infections continue to rise. Canadian MRSA cases increased 17-fold from 1995 to 2006. In the USA, MRSA bacteremia has been associated with mortality rates up to 60%.
Resulting in decreased bed and room availability
Healthcare Associated Infections increase hospital stays by an average of 11 days.
Health care Associated Infections cost up to $45 Billion a year
Financial strain on the health care institution averaged over $25,000 per HAI case in 2009, and more than that post-discharge, account-ing for an estimated 28-45 billion per year.
A preventable outcome of health care
Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada and one of the top 10 causes of death in the US. An estimated 99,000 people died in 2002 as a result of 1.7 million HAIs that year alone.
Health care Associated Infections can be prevented.
Hospitals in the United States, Canada and Europe have demonstrated that with stringent cleaning and infection control, increased staff training and workforce stability infection rates are reduced.
Health care Associated Infections are not acceptable
Liability suits against healthcare facilities continue, such as a $50 million lawsuit against an acute care centre where 91 patients died after a C. difficile outbreak.