International Hand Hygiene Day May 5th: High number of hospital infections due to hospital germs! Hand hygiene could reduce deaths and financial loss.
Vienna (OTS) – Vienna, May 2, 2023 – Every year in Austria alone, 4,500 to 5,000 patients die from hospital germs (bacterial infections). This number could most likely be significantly reduced through correct hand disinfection in hospitals. The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria means that many of these infections can no longer be treated appropriately and people sometimes become seriously ill after harmless procedures or wound care. This not only involves individual human fates, but also a considerable financial burden on the health system, as a survey by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) shows.
4,500 – 5,000 deaths per year in Austria due to nosocomial infections (hospital germs)
In Austria, it is estimated that 95,000 patients become infected every year during diagnostic or therapeutic measures in health facilities, some of them with pathogens that are challenging to treat and are often multi-resistant. “The Semmelweis Foundation has set itself the goal of not only raising public awareness of the issues of hospital hygiene, nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance, but also of bringing them onto the agendas of the responsible decision-makers in institutions and onto the political stage. Hand Hygiene Day, launched by the WHO, shows how important this issue is worldwide“, says Mag. Johannes Culen, Secretary General of the Semmelweis Foundation.
A lack of staff and time pressure are often the cause of poor hand hygiene
The cause is usually poor hygiene or non-compliance with preventative measures due to organizational or structural circumstances. “Correctly carried out, alcohol-based hand disinfection plays a crucial role. At home, just washing your hands with soap is enough, but in healthcare facilities, hands, instruments and surroundings should be treated with alcohol-based disinfectants“, so Culen.
Major financial damage caused by hospital germs
In a position paper from the platform “Fight against hospital germs“From the summer of 2023, the financial damage caused by hospital germs is estimated at 281 million per year based on the additional days of treatment required, calculated very conservatively. With this amount, around 5,000 additional nursing staff could be employed.
An estimate in the study carried out by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) shows that on average every tenth bed is needed for a patient with a nosocomial (health system-associated) infection.
Semmelweis Society supports the platform’s position paper “Fight against hospital germswith concrete recommendations for action
“Hand hygiene to contain infections with hospital germs must not remain a state matter. We demand uniform and binding hygiene quality standards for all of Austria,” says Culens Appel.
Questions & Contact:
Allowed. Johannes Culen
Secretary General
Semmelweis Foundation
Johannes.culen@semmelweis.info
+43 676 3127607