Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) is a significant problem in modern healthcare:

  • It accounts for an extra spend of £1 billion every year in the NHS alone.
  • Every single case of Hospital Acquired Infection costs the NHS an extra £3154.
  • It requires an extra 3.6 million bed days per year.
  • 7.8% of inpatients develop HAI.
  • HAI causes mortality to increase from 2% to 11%.
  • Patients discharged after HAI require longer to return to work.

Hospital Acquired InfectionsGood infection control procedures can help reduce the burden of HAI. The tourniquet is the last barrier to infection control.

The average tourniquet is owned for almost 2 years.

Almost half of tourniquets in use are visibly contaminated with blood. The hepatitis B virus remains infective for 1 week in blood spilt on a tourniquet.

The same tourniquet may be used on multiple wards and patients, regardless of infective status. Even replacing tourniquets daily fails to prevent them from being contaminated with MRSA.

Stop the spread of HAI. Use a SAINT.

References:

  • Journal of Hospital Infection 2001;49:59-61
  • Lancet 2000;355:44
  • American Journal of Infection Control 2006;34:606-609
  • BMJ 2004;329:978
  • Journal of Hospital Infection 2006 63:428-431
  • National Audit Office report 2000