The drastic rise, over the past 15 years, of antibiotic resistance, is now reflected in all healthcare facilities and their nursing methods and practices. With nearly 5%, and raising, of all patients contracting an Hospital Acquired Infection a.k.a. HAI (Klevens study 2007), significant costs are invested and directed at combating the results of hygiene errors and poor nursing practices, or generally elevated and new patient risks. This page, dedicated to the discussing of HAI on an overall level; aims to introduce you to our website’s resources to some key facts, parameters and practical suggestions.

A recent study estimated that Australia has 180,000 HAIs annually and these occupy almost two million bed-days. Australian research found that MRSA infections were the second-most costly adverse event per patient adding an extra $19,892 (~EUR 15k) to the cost of an episode of care (based on 2005-06 data for the state of Victoria and 2006-07 data for the state of Queensland, by Jackson, Ngheim, Rowell, Jorm and Wakefield 2009). The second most costly adverse event was Clostridium difficile.

The Curas Infection Prevention pages will discuss and present risk-reduction product specific solutions for the major HAI topics such as: Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli , the human Gastroenteritis Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, ncomycin-resistant enterococci Fungi and Pneumonia.

At the same time as HAI are increasing in virtually all developed nations; never before are as many patients being cared for by so few nurses: In the 1950s there were 5 times as many nurses and as late as in the 1980s there were almost 3 times as many as today (Germany – Source: Alber 1992 (20); Federal Statistical Office 2004). Many observers believe that the dramatic increase in the number of patients becoming ill and even dying as a result of hospitalization and facility care is due to the reduction in work forces and classic disciplines relating to basic hygiene.

For instance in Germany, between 1995 and 2005, a reduction of approximately 48,000 full time equivalent nursing positions in hospitals – a procedural decline of 13.5% have occurred. Over the same period, trainees from 88,800 to 72,300, assistants 32,000 to 18,000 and auxiliary staff from 33,600 to 19,500.

Furthermore; Curas focus on Nursing related products is in support of international evidence on prioritizing and scares nursing resources (IHOS Study) which shows that only 30-40% of the 43,329 participating nurses` from 700 hospitals in the USA, Canada, England, Scotland and Germany (1998 -1999) reported that there were enough nurses to perform all required nursing tasks. Further, up to 54% of the nurses across countries reported that, on their most recent shift, they had omitted and neglected a number of nursing activities such as oral hygiene, skin care etc.

The Curas product range aims at correcting the nurse-to-patient situation by minimizing the risk of infectious spread and contamination, and it is evident and clear to Curas that the safe choice of products, with built-in active infection prevention features and designs, can play a big role in reducing risk to patients.

On the sub-pages of this Infection Prevention section of www.curas.com we are presenting important HAI cases and proposals that help healthcare professionals to select the correct and proper, cost-effective, medical device and supplies product.

Persistence of clinically relevant organisms on dry inanimate surfaces.