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Little Bugs Cost Big $$
Published: May 3, 2009
Little Bugs Cost Big DollarsThe Dallas Morning News had a feature story entitled Fighting Infection Before it Starts on April 7th that shares interesting facts about the diseases contracted in hospitals, the costs of these diseases, and how Baylor Healthcare System is working to eliminate this growing problem.
In a retreat of hundreds of midlevel health managers, Victoria Nahum, of Atlanta spoke to the group and relayed how three of her family members became infected in hospitals in three states within a ten month period. She pointed out that most of these infections are a result of carelessness, with hand cleaning being the primary culprit.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention, 1.7 million health care associated infections and 99,000 deaths occur each year. The direct costs to hospitals resulting from hospital-acquired infections are estimated to range from $28.4 billion to $33.8 billion annually. This works out to be about $26,000 per patient.
Two of the most prominent hospital-acquired infections are a result of Staphylococcus Aureus and MRSA. The Staph. Aureus infections range from minor skin infections to severe blood infections. Often referred to as the flesh-eating superbug, MRSA is methicillin-resitant Staph. Aureus. It is estimated that a case of MRSA can cost $35,000 to treat. Staph and MRSA usually initially present as swollen and painful red bumps or as spider bites.
Although treatable, this has become a serious health problem as well as a financial burden on hospital systems. Methodist Health System has initiated a MRSA early detection system at the cost of more than $400,000 that includes culturing lesions on high- risk patients. Baylor spent $6 million on training and data collection.
These nasty bugs come into the hospitals on patients skin and in their noses. It is becoming more common for a hospital to have a patient shower with an antibacterial soap before admission. The Methodist Hospital System now gives out a “golden hand” award for nurses who practice good hygiene. They have a policy of watching all nurses and doctors to make sure they wash their hands before entering a patients room and spent $80,000 on hand sanitation stations and glove dispensers at or near the entrances to each room.
In dentistry, we tend to be very conscious about hand washing, glove, and mask usage. But this information is most useful to us because these same vectors of bacterial transmission can occur in our offices. Only one verified case could make life miserable for a patient, their families, as well as us as providers.
By Dr. Kavin Kelp
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