While 10 percent of patients in intensive care units develop healthcare-associated infections, the majority of them may be preventable, according to a study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 78,000 patients from 525 ICUs in six European countries collected between 2005 to 2008. They then calculated the number of expected infections if the ICUs with higher infection rates reduced their infection rates to match those of ICUs in the top-tenth percentile.
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They estimated 52 percent of ventilator-associated pneumonia infections and 69 percent of bloodstream infections were preventable.
Researchers suggest their estimates "quantify the potential prevention of VAP and BSI conditions," assuming the infections can be eliminated with improved quality of care, according to the study.
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