Slide Presentation of the 2007 Annual Meeting of AHRQ

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI): Important Patient Safety Issue

• HAI rates have risen over the last 30 years
  • 2 million cases annually
  • 500,000 occur in ICU
  • Commonly associated with insertion of a device
• 6th leading cause of death
• Estimated to cost hospitals $5.9 billion per year
• Increasing numbers of HAI are resistant to one or more antibiotics