Health-Care Related Infections Hit 9.8 Billion Annually in U.S.

Hospitals are amazing places. Many times, people are healed, new life begins and happy families bring loved ones home to start fresh. But on the down side, people also die in hospitals and new complications can arise from dangerous infections that occur post-surgery or during a patient's stay. In fact, a recent study shows that the estimated annual medical cost of five major health care associated infections is approximately $9.8 million annually in the United States alone. 

Researchers looked at data from 1986 through April 2013 provided by medical literature. They also used the incident rates of HAIs from the National Healthcare Safety network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The team headed by Eyal Zimlichman, M.D., M.Sc., from Brigham and the Women's Hospital and the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Ma., HAIs showed information that contributed to higher medical costs and better techniques could have helped prevent this problem.

Study results showed that the most costly HAI infections were associated with bloodstream infections, costing around $45,814. The study notes that ventilator-associated pneumonia infections came in second at $40,144, with surgical site infections next at $20,785. Clostridium diffcile infection and catheter-associated urinary tract infections come in at last at $11,285.

"While quality improvement initiatives have decreased HAI incidence and costs, much more remains to be done. As hospitals realize savings from prevention of these complications under payment reforms, they may be more likely to invest in such strategies," the study concludes.

Have you had a hospital experience that ended with more problems than you started out with? Share in the comments below.

More information regarding the study can be found via JAMA Internal Medicine.