HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTION

Highlighted by Mr JC:

At the 2nd HAI (Health-Associated Infection) Forum it was learnt that about seven million medical professionals in the US and Europe are carriers of diseases or are susceptible to diseases, a new research has revealed.

There are three imminent threats to patients across the world. First threat: common bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) are now producing enzymes which make the bacteria capable of de-activating all but the antibiotics that specialists reserve as a last line of defense. Second threat: healthcare workers themselves may be contributing to the spread of infections by failing to get flu vaccinations and, in some countries, coming to work when they are ill rather than taking sick days. Third threat: Health ministries are failing to adopt proven health policies that could limit the spread of infections in hospitals and other healthcare establishments.

Health authorities and healthcare professionals worldwide are called upon to “reduce consumption of antibiotics and act as quickly as possible before some multi-resistant bacteria become endemic.” Many of the experts expressed concern that there is a false impression that HAIs are under control. With new kinds of bacterial resistance (KPC carbapenemases) and new strains (PVL-positive Staphylococcus aureus) appearing, HAI are still a major public health threat.

Healthcare-associated infections are now recognized as a critical public health issue and continue to be a major cause of morbidity, mortality and excess healthcare cost. Their prevalence is continually rising due to increasingly sophisticated medical treatment and surgical procedures, international travel and the overuse or misuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

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Source: Biospectrum Pharma Trend and Analysis 12th Nov 2009