NHS Infection Rate “Unacceptable”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has warned that the infection rate in patients receiving treatment in NHS hospitals is “unacceptably high”.
1 in 16 NHS Patients at Risk
Each year, an estimated 300,000 NHS patients become infected while in hospital – this represents an average of 1 in 16 patients.
The most commonly reported infections include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, and surgery site infections.
Professor Gillian Leng, a spokeswoman for NICE, said:
are a costly and avoidable burden. They hinder a patient’s recovery, can
make underlying conditions worse, and reduce quality of life.
Although there have been major improvements within the NHS in infection control,
particularly in relation to Clostridium difficile and MRSA bloodstream
infections in the last few years, healthcare associated
infections are still a very real threat to patients,
their families and carers and staff.”
NICE warns that even otherwise healthy patients face the risk of infection, especially where invasive procedures such as catheters are used.
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