The five most common hospital-acquired infections cost the U.S. health care system almost $10 billion annually, according to a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One out of every 20 patients who are admitted to a hospital will get an infection while there, according to an article in U.S. News & World Report. Almost half of these often serious and even life-threatening infections may be preventable.
The new study from Harvard researchers, which was published online Sept. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests that by focusing efforts on surgical site infections and by guarding against infections caused by Clostridium difficile, hospitals could save substantial amounts of money.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis, or a study of studies, to estimate the costs associated with each of the different kinds of infections, according to the article. They used a large, national database maintained by the CDC to estimate the number of health care-associated infections. And they built mathematical models to incorporate variations in patient outcomes and to see how those variations impacted costs.
Read the article.
Two Steps to Controlling the Hot Zone
RiverSpring Living Breaks Ground on River's Edge Senior Living Community
Encompass Health Reveals Plans to Build Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Post Falls, Idaho
Creating Compassionate Spaces in Healthcare
Study Shows Connection Between Odor and Patient Experience