Enturia

The Economic Impact of Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs)

HAI costs increase 26% over a 12-year period

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.7 million people per year acquire an HAI, which results in 99,000 deaths — the equivalent of 271 people each day.¹ HAIs in the United States were estimated to cost $4.5 billion in 1995.² A more recent estimate puts HAI economic impact at more than $17 billion a year.³ The cost of treating HAIs will no longer be covered by Medicare as of October 2008, placing an increased economic burden on hospitals.

And, voluntary and mandatory reporting of HAIs is a rising trend. Voluntary hospital participation in the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System has increased from 60 hospitals at inception to about 300 in 2005.⁴ Seven states have enacted legislation mandating hospitals to report HAIs; six of those states require public disclosure of HAI data.⁵

The economic impact of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs)

• Catheter-related BSIs represent 19%² of HAIs and have a mean cost for treatment of $36,441 (range $1,822 to $107,156)⁶ More about BSIs
• SSIs represent 23% of HAIs² and have a mean treatment cost of $25,546 (range $1,783 to $134,602)⁶ More about SSIs

ChloraPrep reduces microorganisms that can cause BSIs and SSIs

ChloraPrep, a combination of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), helps improve clinical patient outcomes by reducing the skin-dwelling microorganisms that can cause BSIs and SSIs. The applicator eliminates hand-to-patient contact, helping prevent cross contamination. Together, the formulation and applicator provide a proven system that supports infection control guidelines for reducing incidences of BSIs and SSIs.

ChloraPrep advantages

• Rapid acting: 70% isopropyl alcohol in ChloraPrep rapidly kills microorganisms versus free iodine, which requires two minutes to begin antimicrobial activity⁸
• Persistent: ChloraPrep maintains antimicrobial activity for at least 48 hours^7,10 compared to two hours for free iodine⁸
• Broad spectrum: ChloraPrep antimicrobial activity is effective against microorganisms including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), Clostridium difficile, Acineobacter, and most viruses and fungi^8,9,10
• Active in protein-rich biomaterials: Remains active in the presence of blood, serum, and other protein-rich biomaterials^9,11 unlike traditional iodophors, which are neutralized¹²
• Low irritation: CHG demonstrates low incidence of irritation⁹

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