{"id":8303,"date":"2023-07-12T00:04:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T22:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amil-care.com\/2023\/07\/12\/infezioni-correlate-assistenza-quanto-pesano\/"},"modified":"2023-09-06T16:19:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T14:19:05","slug":"healthcare-associated-infection-burden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amil-care.com\/en\/2023\/07\/12\/healthcare-associated-infection-burden\/","title":{"rendered":"How much do healthcare-associated infections affect healthcare facilities?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hospital-associated or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)<\/span><\/b> are infections that occur during or after a patient’s stay in a healthcare facility. In addition to representing a problem relating to the state of health of people, infections weigh on the National Health System – and at the European level – with a quantifiable <\/span>burden in terms of costs; an economic aspect that should not be underestimated.<\/p>\n

We at AMIL Care think it is essential to reflect on the issue. For this reason, we have decided to dedicate an article to you, designed to assist the work of professionals such as purchasing managers in hospitals, medical equipment management managers, clinical engineers, safety, and hygiene managers (HSE), those responsible for clinical risk management.<\/p>\n

The number of healthcare-associated infections<\/h2>\n

Healthcare-associated infections<\/span><\/b> are one of the most frequent complications in hospital care, with both clinical and economic impacts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These complications, widespread and often underestimated involve considerable clinical and economic costs, causing a lengthening of the patient\u2019s hospitalization times and imposing a heavy commitment of resources and personnel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This intense consumption of healthcare resources not only burdens the hospital system but also affects the pockets of patients and their families. The picture is further complicated when one considers the long-term consequences of such infections, which can lead to disability and, in some cases, fuel the <\/span>resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, it is not only a question of quality of life for patients, but also an <\/span>economic problem that weighs on the budgets of health systems<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hospital infections, <\/span><\/b>with their chain of negative repercussions, outline a complex landscape in which clinical, economic, and social challenges are intertwined and not easily solvable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several studies, including the one conducted by <\/span>Economic Evaluation and EHTA of the CEIS<\/span><\/b> and financed by the Ministry of Health, report a portrait of the situation in Italy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Europe, 8.9 million cases of healthcare-associated infections have been identified per year, resulting in 16 million additional days of hospitalization, with an estimated \u20ac7 billion in direct costs alone. While in our country, the numbers are different.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Health reports that in Italy between 450,000 and 700,000 hospital infections are recorded annually, this means that a healthcare-related infection occurs in 4-7% of hospitalizations. To come to an estimate of average annual costs, just consider that a single infection is equivalent to spending between 5,000 and 10,500 euros. It should be considered that an HAI usually implies a two-and-a-half times longer hospital stay for the patient, and consequently at least triple hospitalization costs. In addition, some infections are more expensive than others to treat, such as those from surgical wounds and blood.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An additional element to consider when analyzing the picture of <\/span>healthcare-related infections<\/span><\/b> is the upward trend of hospitalizations between 2006 and 2018. Although there was a reduction in acute care hospitalizations in ordinary care during this period, it was accompanied by an increase in highly antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, particularly Gram-negative bacteria.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reduction of HAI remains an objective to be actively pursued, being already present in the National Antibiotic Resistance Fight Plan of the Ministry of Health in 2017.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common causes of HAIs and how they are transmitted<\/h2>\n

When we talk about <\/span>healthcare-related infections<\/span><\/b>, we consider both exogenous infections, i.e. transmitted from the outside, for example through operators or the environment, and endogenous infections, caused by bacteria present inside the body. Patients are most affected, but healthcare personnel and visitors can also be exposed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common <\/span>healthcare-related infections<\/span><\/b> concern those of the urinary tract (which alone account for 35-40% of hospital infections), respiratory tract, surgical wounds, and blood (sepsis and bacteremia).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The triggers of these infections can be different, including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n