Hospital acquired infections (HAI) such as C. diff. (CDI), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Norovirus, often called the stomach flu, are increasing in incidence, severity and excess cost to hospitals. HAIs affect up to 2.4 million patients in the US and account for almost 100,000 deaths annually.¹

 

• $1.3 billion USD in excess costs, 9,000 deaths in 165,000 cases of hospital-onset HAIs²
• $0.3 billion USD in excess costs, 3,000 deaths in 50,000 cases of post-discharge HAIs²
• $2.2 billion USD in excess costs, 16,500 deaths in 263,000 cases of nursing home-onset HAIs²

 

Costs are rising proportionally in Canada. In 1997 treating an MRSA infection cost $14,360 CAD.³ By 2006 it cost $27,661 CAD.⁴ The estimated direct cost of readmission for a case of C. diff. in Canada is approximately $12,800 CAD.⁵ More than 220,000 HAIs occur in Canada annually and result in 8,500-12,000 deaths.

 

 

HAI Death Rates

 

The rising rate of nosocomial infections contributes to higher mortality rates, negative patient outcomes and longer length of stay in hospital. 99,000 people die each year of hospital-acquired infectious diseases in the US, according to the CDC.⁷ Many of these infections are resistant to at least one antibiotic. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria generate $16.6 billion to $26 billion USD per year in extra costs to the US healthcare system.⁸

 

• 23% of 161 patients hospitalized for CDI had died at 30 days follow-up compared with only 7% of matched control subjects in the study⁹
• 10.7 additional days in hospital on average per case of nosocomial CDI²
• 16.7% cumulative attributable mortality rate one year post infection²

 

Adding to the containment problem is the emergence of new hypervirulent and resistant mutations of C. difficile. The Quebec strain B1/NAP1/027 produces 16 to 20 times more A and B toxins than typical C. diff. and can cause severe patient deterioration within days of onset.¹⁰ It is more resistant to fluoroquinolones compared to a typical strain. B1 has been identified in 38 states in the U.S. and in hospitals across Canada and Europe since November 2007.

 

Facility-wide collaboration, particularly between Infection Control and Environmental Services/Housekeeping is mandatory to prevent the spread of disease.