…but there is still more work to be done…..
Although U.S. hospitals are making gains in the fight against some antibiotic-resistant superbugs, too many people are still getting these infections in healthcare facilities, federal health officials report.And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to be at the forefront of the fight against these infections.
“Doctors are the key to stamping out superbugs,” CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said during a news conference Thursday.
Study senior author, Dr. Clifford McDonald, said, “We are seeing progress in several areas, but more needs to be done.” McDonald is the associate director for science of the division of healthcare quality promotion at the CDC.
“More than 700,000 U.S. patients are infected by bacteria in hospitals and 75,000 die from hospital-acquired infections each year,” McDonald said.
“In some hospitals, more than one in four infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” he added.
To combat the problem of antibiotic-resistant infections, the CDC is calling on doctors, nurses and hospital staff to continue to prevent the spread of bacteria between patients. The CDC is also asking healthcare professionals to reduce infections related to surgery and placement of catheters. The agency is also calling for cautious use of antibiotics to help fight resistance.
“Patients also have a role,” McDonald said. “This includes washing hands after using the bathroom and before meals.”
To read the article in it’s entirety, visit HealthDay
Fore more information on antibiotic resistance, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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For additional information on Great Plains QIN’s efforts to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), visit our Website and be sure to join our Learning and Action Network to get involved and connected.