Many of those infections occur in healthcare settings, incurring $5.8 billion in direct medical care, according to a Nov. 14 news release from the organization. Vulnerable patients like those battling cancer or other chronic conditions are at greatest risk of contracting infections.
Here are other findings:
- A report by the CDC found antibiotic-resistant infections and deaths increased by 15 percent in 2020.
- Hispanic patients are 24 percent more likely to die from a hospital-acquired infection and Black patients are 12 percent more likely, as compared to their white counterparts.
- Roughly 35,000 deaths occur each year from these infections, resulting in an economic loss of $7.2 billion.
