Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) affect millions of patients around the world every year
Medical devices and HAIs
More than half of all HAIs are caused by medical devices. Biofilm is linked to 80% of chronic infections.
1 in 18 patients get an HAI
1 in 18 gets an infections in a hospital/healthcare setting.
$17 000 000 000 per annum
HAIs cost healthcare systems billions each year.
Anti-Microbial Resistance
70% of the bacteria that cause HAIs are resistant to at least one of the drugs.
HAI’s cost healthcare systems billions each year.
- Additional annual healthcare costs of €7bn in Europe and €10bn in the US
- BUT: There is no effective, long-lasting coating to prevent biofilm on medical devices on the market.
Modern healthcare employs many types of invasive and non-invasive medical devices to treat patients and to help them recover. Medical devices are behind more than 50% of all HAIs, the most common areas are the urinary tract, respiratory tract and the bloodstream. The risk of infection increases daily throughout the use of the medical device.
Example case: In-dwelling Foley catheter-associated urinary tract infections
Picture (Ex. E. coli with text “E.coli causes more than 85 % of all urinary tract infections”)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection involving any part of the urinary system, including urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidney. UTIs are the most common type of healthcare-associated infection reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Among UTIs acquired in the hospital, approximately 75% are associated with a urinary catheter.
Wound dressings are used to support the healing process and to help prevent complications such as infection. As they are designed to be in direct contact with the wound, they may become exposed to and colonized by microorganisms.
Infected wounds can lead to a range of complications, from local effects to more serious systemic conditions. One of the most significant local consequences is delayed or impaired healing, which can result in chronic, non-healing wounds. These conditions are often associated with pain, discomfort, and a reduced quality of life for the patient.
Healthcare-associated infections and wound care challenges
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant challenge in clinical settings. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), approximately 1 in 18 patients in European hospitals acquire an HAI.
A key contributing factor to many HAIs is microbial colonization and the formation of biofilms on the surface of medical devices that are in contact with patients, such as catheters, endotracheal tubes, and ventilators. Once established, biofilms can be difficult to manage, as they may reduce the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments and can persist despite the body’s natural defense mechanisms.
In wound care, similar challenges are observed. Wounds and wound dressings can become colonized by microorganisms, and under certain conditions, biofilm formation may contribute to delayed healing and an increased risk of complications. Effective wound management therefore focuses not only on protecting the wound, but also on maintaining a balanced environment that supports healing while minimizing the risk of microbial proliferation.
HAI’s in the EU
- Approximately 4 million cases each year
- Around 37,000 associated deaths
- About 6% of hospitalized patients affected
- Estimated direct healthcare costs of EUR 7 billion annually
$17 000 000 000 per annum
HAI’s cost healthcare systems billions each year
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates the direct costs of HAIs to €7 billion per year. In the US the cost is estimated to $10 billons [1]. While the range is wide, HAIs are clearly expensive.
Antibiotics are used to treat patients with HAIs. The antibiotic treatment is very often inefficient when the surface of the medical device has been colonised due to the protection bacteria get from the biofilm they develop. In this case, the only solution is to remove the medical device leading to suffering for the patient and increased costs for the healthcare system.
References
Antimicrobial Resistance
70% of the bacteria that cause HAIs are resistant to at least one of the drugs
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 70% of the bacteria that cause HAIs are resistant to at least one of the drugs most commonly used to treat them, and there is strong evidence that the attributable costs, length of stay and mortality are even greater when an infection is caused by a Multi-drug Resistant Organism. If no action is taken, ten million people around the world will be at risk of dying each year from multi-resistant bacteria by 2050 (source: WHO).
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