Healthcare associated infections

Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) are infections which a patient catches when receiving healthcare and/or during a stay in a healthcare institution, such as a day care unit or inpatient stay in hospital. HCAIs are one of the most prominent reasons for failure of advanced medical treatment such as complicated surgery, intensive care, transplant medicine, and cancer treatment. Such infections prolong the suffering of patients, increase healthcare costs, and have other direct and indirect economic implications (loss of productivity and disability).

There are more than 4 million such infections in the European Union each year, accounting for around one quarter of all adverse events associated with hospital care. More worryingly still, such infections claim 37,000 lives per year, despite the fact that many of these deaths are avoidable. HCAIs are a source of increasing concern; not only do they add a financial burden to healthcare systems, many of the infections, such as MRSA, are also resistant to antibiotics and therefore increasingly difficult to treat.

HCAIs can be constrained and reduced by applying essential elements of an infection control programme such as educating healthcare workers and patients to increase their knowledge on patient safety, and implementing a well-organised surveillance system and basic control measures. Improving hand hygiene in healthcare settings can also save lives by reducing healthcare associated infections. Additionally, appropriate legislation has an important role to play to increase patient safety, as does the use of innovative technologies and systems.

The medical technology industry is continuously devising new tools and procedures specifically designed to minimise the risk of HCAIs. These include antimicrobial coatings, ‘closed’ catheterisation systems which minimise the opportunities for bloodstream infections, highly efficient surgical site barriers, rapid screening technologies, monitoring systems and needlestick prevention mechanisms. By prioritising the use of such innovative medical technology specifically designed to reduce risks, policymakers can lower the incidence of HCAIs. Clearly, avoiding the reuse of single-use medical devices can also make a substantial contribution.