In the era of emerging pathogens and value-based care, compliance with infection prevention programs is crucial for both the health of patients and the fiscal health of a hospital.
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one hospital-associated infection on any given day. In 2011, about 75,000 patients with HAIs died while hospitalized.
Along with serious human costs, HAIs can also prove costly for hospitals. According to a 2015 study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, patients infected with Clostridium difficile remain hospitalized 55 percent longer and are 77 percent more likely to be readmitted, which results in a 40 percent increase in costs per infected patient.
In addition to the transmission risks associated with patients known to have C. diff infection, a study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine concluded the receipt of antibiotics by prior bed occupants, regardless of whether or not they had C. diff, was associated with an increased risk for the infection in subsequent patients hospitalized in the same bed. This finding further highlights the importance of consistent, optimized hand hygiene and environmental hygiene to prevent the transmission of C. diff and other healthcare-associated pathogens. However, compliance with these foundations of infection prevention remains challenging, and measuring compliance is often resource-intensive and costly.
During a Nov. 17 webinar sponsored by Ecolab, Linda Homan, RN, BSN, CIC, a senior manager of clinical and professional services with Ecolab's healthcare division, will discuss the impact of noncompliance on infection prevention programs. Additionally, Ms. Homan will share human behavior models that influence compliance, as well as unique compliance measures to make infection prevention protocols more comprehensive, thereby improving patient outcomes.
To learn more and register for the webinar, click here.
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