To prevent is better than to remedy
Hospital infections not only result in high financial cost but also in high number of lost lives. Therefore, better than the clinical treatment itself, the prevention of hospital infections is the best strategy as being cheaper and more effective.
The annual cost of treatment and hospitalization in England accounts for £1bn. According to the NAO (National Audit Office) 2000 report, the NHS could have saved £150m if preventive actions involving hospital hygiene and infection control had been taken.
Some important pathogens
Staphylococcus
“Staphylococus aureus” is the most common bacteria in hospital infections across the world and are especially linked to surgical wound infections that represent 11% of all nosocomial infections in England.
Other bacterial pathogens have high relevance in airborne transmitted diseases and are well studied like the “Streptococcus spp” and “Pseudomonas aeruginosa”. Airborne pathogens are commonly related to respiratory tract infections which correspond to 23% of all hospital infections in England.
Aspergillus
“Aspergillus spp” is the most common fungus acquired trough air transmission in hospitals.
The “conidius propagulus” small size allows it to be in suspension in the air for long periods of time, remaining viable for months, even in low humidity places. Studies estimate that 75% of the Invasive “Aspergillosis” cases result in death, especially due to the difficulty in diagnosing it. The daily therapy cost is extremely high over £701, resulting in an average therapy cost of £ 9.814(*) per patient. The therapy cost of just one invasive “Aspergillosis” patient is approximately equivalent to 60 Airfree units
*considering a 70 kg patient. Approximate cost of AWP (of Lamb) is US$188 per 50 mg vial. Typical dose is 5.0 mg/kg/day. Estimated daily cost per patient US$1,316.