PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Getting an infection from a microorganism in a hospital setting is one of the 10 biggest public health challenges in the United States.
Every year, the CDC publishes a list of the most significant health issues in the country. Some of the categories are obvious, e.g., alcohol-related harms, food safety and traffic injuries. Just as important but less obvious, perhaps, is the category of "health care-associated infections."
Every day, one in 25 patients gets an infection while in one of our nation's hospitals. The causes vary, but common culprits are catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections.
Numerous guidelines and protective measures are in place to cut down on these infections, but as hospitals continue to struggle financially and manage with a dwindling workforce, there is concern that these problems will be magnified. Areas of potential risk for infection in health care settings need more attention than ever.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
