4 Million EU Citizens Contract a HCAI

The UK’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) has published the results of the fourth HCAI Point Prevalence Survey.         

The report provides a snapshot of the levels of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) in Autumn 2011.

Compared with the previous HCAI PPS survey carried out in 2006, there was an overall drop in HCAI prevalence from 8.2% in 2006 to 6.4% in 2011.

Results from this year’s survey showed that:

•A total of 3,360 patients were diagnosed with an active HCAI with 135 patients having more than one.

•Overall 6.4% of people in hospital had an HCAI.

•The most common types of HCAI were respiratory (including pneumonia and infections of the lower respiratory tract) (22.8%), urinary tract infections (UTI) (17.2%), and surgical site infections (15.7%).

•The prevalence of HCAI was highest in those patients aged 1-23 months at 8.2% followed by patients aged 65-79 years of age at 7.4%. This reflects the vulnerability for HCAI at the extremes of age.

•When comparing ward specialties, HCAI prevalence was highest in patients in intensive care units (ICUs) at 23.4% followed by surgical wards at 8%. These figures also reflect that the highest rates of infection occur in those patients who have devices or have had procedures performed.

Privacy Smartglass provides instant seclusion at the flick of a switch. Users can immediately switch Privacy Smartglass from clear to private (opaque) and vice versa. Privacy Smartglass provides added value and increased flexibility in new build and refurbishment hospital designs, helps reduce HCAIs, improves working environments and increases the well being of occupants.

Privacy Smartglass provides healthcare patients with privacy and dignity allowing them to be protected at all times in a clean and safe environment which is proven to speed up recovery time and improve general patient well being. Privacy Smartglass offers a sheer, easily cleaned surface replacing traditional blind systems which are difficult to clean & maintain and high risk in terms of harbouring dirt and bacteria associated with super bugs such as MRSA.

Cleaning Privacy Smartglass can be done far more cheaply, supporting regular cleaning regimes with much less time and effort compared with traditional partitioning. Dr. Allison McGeer, head of infection control at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital highlighted some of the issues with privacy curtains. Privacy curtains, she explained, are difficult to clean and take considerable time taking them down, washing them and putting them back up: “Changing bed linen, that’s easy. Changing privacy curtains, on the other hand, is a pain in the neck.”

Privacy Smartglass partitioning also fits well with NHS directives to improve patient privacy and dignity by allowing patients to be in command of their surroundings. It provides for better soundproofing than curtains, giving patients enhanced control in resting and sleeping at their own behest. The glass also lets in lots of light in both on and off states, which can help provide for a more holistic recovery process.

Privacy Smartglass can be used as wall panels, internal doors and windows, x-ray screens, room dividers or mobile isolation screens. It offers the patient dignity and privacy, allowing hospital staff to safely and efficiently review patient wellbeing, while crucially providing several key facets for reducing hospital acquired infections.

Privacy Smartglass has been used in various healthcare institutions around the UK including Royal Sunderland Hospital, Derriford Hospital, West Wales General Hospital, St. Mary’s Paddington Hospital and The Harley Street Medical Clinic.

For more information on Privacy Smartglass and our healthcare projects contact info@smartglassinternational.com