DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog

Eighty-seven percent of U.S. hospitals do not take recommended steps to reduce hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and VRE, according to a new survey.  Conducted by The Leapfrog Group, a healthcare quality assurance consortium comprised of major U.S. corporations who provide employee health insurance benefits, the survey was based on an analysis of 1,256 U.S. hospitals.  It examined hospital practices related to the prevention of four common infections:  ventilator-associated pneumonia, central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection, surgical site infection, and influenza.  The survey also examined handwashing hygeine among hospital staff.

The number of hospitals in full compliance with recommended standards of infection prevention were as follows:

• Ventilator-associated pneumonia:  38.5%
• Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection:  35.4%
• Surgical site infection:  32.3%
• Influenza:  30.7%
• Hand Hygeine:  35.6%

Every year, 1 out of every 20 U.S. hospital patients (2 million people) contract an infection during their hospital stay -- an infection they would not have acquired outside the hospital.  These various kinds of infections, as a group, are referred to as nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infections.  On average, 90,000 patients per year die as a result of their infections -- and are billed an average of $15,000 each for costs directly related to infection treatment.  The total estimated cost of treating hospital-acquired infection in the U.S. each year is $30 billion. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A new study indicating that MRSA is more prevalent in hospitals than suspected
• The prevalence of drug-resistant staph infections in hospital emergency rooms
• A study linking hospital-acquired infections to unsanitary hospital rooms

If you or a family member believe that you have a case involving hospital care, please contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at 202-463-3030 for a free consultation.  If you would like to receive our complimentary electronic newsletter, please click here.