17 Oct 2010

Hospital infection study

2:03 pm on 17 October 2010

A specialist in infectious diseases hopes new findings will encourage the redoubling of efforts to prevent patients getting bloodstream infections while they are in hospital for other reasons.

A study published in the Medical Journal estimates that just one such infection costs a hospital $20,000.

The authors say there are one or two such infections for every 1000 patients admitted.

Dr Sally Roberts of the Auckland District Health Board says she hopes the study will convince healthcare workers of the importance of excellent hygiene practices.