Hospital-Acquired Infections
Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are the infections patients acquire while receiving treatment in a healthcare facility. In 2011, there was an estimated 722,000 HAIs in U.S. hospitals resulting in 75,000 deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016). In addition to an increase in disease and mortality, HAIs negatively affect patient care by increasing patient length of stay and inpatient costs (Syndor & Perl, 2011).
Intensive care units (ICUs) are associated with greater risk for infection because the patient population is so critically ill and vulnerable. The leading cause of death in non-cardiac ICUs is infection and sepsis with mortality rates reaching as high as 60% (Vincent et al., 2009). Mortality among patients
Intensive care units (ICUs) are associated with greater risk for infection because the patient population is so critically ill and vulnerable. The leading cause of death in non-cardiac ICUs is infection and sepsis with mortality rates reaching as high as 60% (Vincent et al., 2009). Mortality among patients