Healthcare-Associated Infections in the United States Kill 99,000 Hospital Patients Annually

Transcript:

On any given day, about 1 in 25 hospital patients have an infection caused by their medical care. Almost half of these patients are 65 or older. 

There are 5 places where patients are most likely to get infections: 

• in the bloodstream, 
• the urinary tract, 
• the gut, 

and the two most common places are the 

• site of surgery and 
• the lungs. 

The germs most likely to cause healthcare associated infections include: 

• C. difficile, or deadly diarrhea
• Staph, including the drug-resistant type known as MRSA
• a family of germs known as Enterobacteriaceae, that include CRE the "nightmare bacteria" 
• Enterococcus, which can be resistant to an important antibiotic, vancomycin, and
• Pseudomonas, which can cause infections of the lungs and bloodstream. 

One in every 9 patients who gets an infection will die during their hospitalization. 

Over the last several years, great progress has been made in preventing some infections.  For example, bloodstream infections in patients with central lines have been nearly cut in half in the last 5 years.  But more work needs to be done.  CDC's goal is to eliminate all healthcare-associated  infections.  We work 24/7 to save lives and protect people.

Source:  Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Not exactly a confidence builder.

 The New York Times, 10/13/2014