Avoiding the drama of health care-associated infections

Current estimates indicate that health care-associated infections (HAIs) account for approximately 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year, making them one of the 10 leading causes of death in the US. Published reports estimate that at least one-third of HAIs could be prevented using current recommendations. Besides the obvious quality of care concerns these infection statistics reflect, there are also significant financial repercussions for the institution. Estimates put excess health care costs for HAIs at between $4.5 billion and $5.7 billion annually. The following are some of the practical and effective steps that will help reduce the risk of HAIs: 1. Designate a committee or other multidisciplinary group to oversee the infection prevention and control program. 2. Assess infection risks in the organization. 3. Create an infection prevention and control plan based on the prioritized risks. 4. Educate clinical and administrative leaders throughout the organization and seek their participation in the design and implementation of the infection prevention and control program.