IRVINE, Calif., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Survey results
released today reveal that 34 percent of Americans(1) have, or know
someone who has, acquired an infection after being exposed to germs
during a hospital stay. Moreover, the survey found that 64 percent
of Americans do not think they would be better protected from germs
in the hospital than in their daily lives. The findings released
today underscore that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are
affecting perceptions of the safety of healthcare facilities and
that new technologies are needed to help protect patients from
hospital germs, including superbugs such as methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(Pseudomonas) and E. coli. These superbugs can result in
HAIs, which occur in nearly two million patients each year,(2) and
lead to extended hospital stays, additional healthcare costs and
patient deaths.
The survey, which was conducted online by Harris Interactive on
behalf of Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), also found:
- Nearly 99 percent of Americans understand that the
cleanliness of patient rooms has an impact on the spread of
infections in hospitals. - Americans are making decisions about where to receive hospital
care based on where they perceive they will receive the safest
care. In fact, 75 percent of Americans say it is more
important to choose a hospital based on lower infection rates
rather than on convenience when in a non-emergency situation. - An overwhelming number (94 percent) of Americans would
prefer seeking care at a hospital that uses the latest technology
available for preventing the spread of infection.
“As a healthcare professional, I knew the infection statistics
and took extra precautions but I was still powerless to prevent my
51-year-old sister from acquiring and dying from an HAI,” said
Daphne Morgan, MSN,
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