Ever heard of HAI or Health-Associated Infections? They are a top ten cause of death in the U.S. and are a result of your interaction with the healthcare system that treats each of us. If that sounds backwards, it is.
In the U.S., more than two million people are infected each year by Health-Associated Infections. In 2002 alone, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 98,987 people died from HAI, infections they contracted as a result of receiving healthcare.
At any point in time, more than 1.4 million people around the globe are suffering from infections acquired in hospitals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Countries with less sophisticated healthcare can have infection rates up to 20 times higher than in the U.S.
While the impact on life and loved ones is huge, the financial toll is also staggering—an estimated $6.7 billion cost to U.S. healthcare agencies. This is because HAI often leads to longer hospital stays, readmission, and other treatment that adds significantly to the cost of care per patient.
What Doctors and Companies Can Do
Some companies, like Kimberly-Clark, are taking steps to partner with doctors and hospitals nationwide to fight HAI. Please encourage anyone working in healthcare, from private practices to hospital staff, to visit the HAI Watch site at haiwatch.com to learn more about HAI. They will be able to get the latest research, join other professionals fighting HAI, and sign up for continuing education. These education programs, along with a "Not On My Watch" campaign, are helping to raise awareness and train healthcare providers on best practices, guidelines and available research around HAI.
As simple as education sounds, busy doctors and nurses on the front lines of delivering care can find it difficult to find the time to take advantage of scheduled programs within their hospitals. With all the focus on the economy and keeping their businesses healthy, even your primary care physician may not have all the latest information and a plan in place for their team to keep you safe from HAI when you visit.
Article comments
1 - John Lake
You do mention that most of these infections occur outside the US; you might have stressed that detail. If people in America are discouraged from obtaining health-care, the cost in lives and in pain and suffering may be high.
2 - Brian Regienczuk
Hi John -- Thanks for your feedback! The majority of the numbers I am quoting are from the US only, i.e. more than 2 million a year infected and 98,987 deaths in 2004. However, the infection rates are much higher in so called "developing" countries.
The point of the article is to build awareness around a serious problem that is only getting more complicated with drug-resistance problems and start to share tips on what you can do to help raise awareness of this very real health threat. Every day people in the US are becoming infected during treatment, yet it is not a story you hear much about given that it is a top ten killer here.
Keep an eye out... I will be adding an update to this article towards the end of the week that shares some stories from real people who have been effected by this along with more tips on things people can do. I will keep you input in mind. Thanks!