Roughly 44,000 patients annually acquire an infection during their stay in Irish hospitals, as portrayed in a report from the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC). Based on their estimations, about 7.5% or 915 patients in Irish hospitals suffer a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) on any given day. In addition to this, almost 41% of patients receive antimicrobial treatment, which equates to approximately 5,000 patients at any instant. These Irish figures align closely with the European averages. It’s estimated that across the European Union, 4.3 million patients contract at least one HAI during their hospital stay.
These statistics were uncovered in the ECDC’s third survey of HAIs and antimicrobial usage in hospitals carried out in 2022/2023. Dr Andrea Ammon, ECDC Director, emphasizes the urgency of addressing this healthcare challenge. By prioritizing infection prevention, control policies, and antimicrobial stewardship, the spread of these infections can be effectively combated, thereby safeguarding the health of patients across the European Union. Interestingly, Ireland scores low on the usage of masks in Europe. Only twenty per cent of Irish hospitals reported the continuous use of medical masks, and none had universal masking. In stark contrast, all hospitals in Austria reported universal masking.
The survey also indicated a significant rise in HAIs attributed to Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2 ranking as the fourth most common micro-organism). Respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and Covid-19, accounted for nearly one-third of all reported infections. Following these were urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, bloodstream infections and gastrointestinal infections. The survey showed an increased use of antimicrobials, at 35.5% across the EU, with a worrisome finding that one in three micro-organisms detected in HAIs were antibiotic-resistant. ECDC suggests that 20% of infections could be prevented with stronger prevention and control measures, hand hygiene protocols, and single-room accommodation.