HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HAIs)
HAIs are a significant source of complications across the healthcare industry and can be transmitted between different healthcare facilities. However, recent studies suggest that implementing currently available prevention practices can lead to up to a 70 percent reduction in certain HAIs. Likewise, recent modeling data suggests that substantial reductions in resistant bacteria, like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can be achieved through coordinated activities between healthcare facilities in a given region. The financial benefit of using these prevention practices is estimated to be $25 billion to $31.5 billion in medical cost savings.
A variety of organisms are responsible for many different types of HAIs. Details about these organisms and specific prevention efforts can be found on the CDC website. The most common organisms causing HAIs include:
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Acinetobacter
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Burkholderia cepacia
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Clostridium difficile
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Enterobacteriaceae (carbapenem-resistance)
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Gram-negative bacteria
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Klebsiella
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
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Mycobacterium abscessus
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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Staphylococcus aureus
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
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Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)
