Why People Are at Risk for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)Anyone getting medical care is at some risk for an HAI; however, some people are at higher risk than others, including the following: Show
Very young people – premature babies and very sick children. Very old people – the frail and the elderly. People with certain medical conditions – such as diabetes. People with weakened immune systems – from disease, or because they are getting trreatments that weaken their immune system. Cancer treatments (like chemotherapy or radiation) or steroids are treatments that can weaken the immune system. Other risk factors: Length of stay in a healthcare facility – a long hospital stay. Surgery – long and complicated surgery. Hand washing techniques – inadequate hand washing by hospital staff, visitors, and patients. Antibiotics – overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacteria, which means that antibiotics become less effective and do not work as well. Equipment – medical equipment that enters the body can introduce bacteria and infection into the body. For example, urinary catheters, intravenous drips and infusions, respiratory equipment, and drain tubes. Wounds – wounds, incisions (surgical cuts), burns, and skin ulcers are all prone to infection. High-risk patient care areas – some patient care areas are more likely to have infections, such as hospital intensive care units. To contact the Healthcare Associated Infections Program, please call 860-509-7995. This page features helpful links to information, tools, and resources on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which are the most common complication of hospital care and are one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. AHRQ-funded research
and initiatives to reduce HAIs are also highlighted. A core part of the mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the safety of health care for all Americans. To support this mission, AHRQ has funded numerous projects to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving treatment for other conditions within a health care setting. HAIs are
the most common complication of hospital care and are one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in 2002. The financial burden attributable to these infections is estimated at $28 to $33 billion in excess health care costs each year. Fact sheets on AHRQ-funded projects are available for:
This page features helpful links to HAI-related information, tools, and resources, and will direct you to AHRQ-funded research and initiatives to reduce HAIs. Tools & Resources
Tools & Resources for Health Care Providers and Others
Top of Page Tools & Resources for Consumers
Top of Page Page last reviewed June 2018 Page originally created September 2012 Internet Citation: Health Care-Associated Infections. Content last reviewed June 2018. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. What is the most common cause of healthcareGerms often spread from unclean surfaces to the hands of healthcare workers, patients, or visitors. The most common infections associated with healthcare facilities include catheter-associated urinary tract infections; central line-associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and pneumonia.
What are the most common causes of healthcare associated infection list the three most common?The most well-known healthcare-associated infections, for which mandatory reporting is currently required, include those caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Clostridium difficile (C difficile) and Escherichia coli (E coli).
What are the three most common types of healthcareThese healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) include central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
What are the four 4 most common hospital acquired infections?Some of the most common types of HAIs include the following:. Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Surgical site infections.. Clostridium difficile.. Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP). |