What Causes 99,000 Deaths and is Largely Preventable?

This is a scary thought. 99,000 deaths every year that are preventable: CLICK HERE:


CAUSES OF DEATH:

It is one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, responsible for an estimated 99,000 deaths per year. It is largely preventable and hits you when you’re down.


It is health care-associated infection. You get it when you go to the hospital for treatment, but end up with the added problem of a life-threatening infection.


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of these health care-associated infections (HAI),


32 percent are urinary tract infections
22 percent are surgical site infections
15 percent are pneumonia (lung infections)
14 percent are bloodstream infections

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)


An infection is considered to be an HAI if it develops at a hospital or other patient care facility if the patient did not have it prior to treatment. It is a global crisis affecting both patients and health care workers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any given time, 1.4 million people are suffering from HAI, and the risk in developing countries is 2 - 20 times higher than in developed countries.


Such infections often lead to longer hospital stays, increase the likelihood of readmission, and add considerably to medical costs.


SWINE FLU (H1N1) PANDEMIC


The current swine flu (H1N1) pandemic and the increased incidence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also referred to as a "super bug," are fueling public concern for how medical facilities will work to prevent HAI and how they will be held accountable.
We take it for granted that surgical teams will scrub up prior to surgery. But during the course of a hospital stay, we can quickly lose track of the number of health care workers, other hospital staff, and visitors in and out of our room. It is almost impossible for a patient to monitor. We must assume that the people entrusted with our care are washing their hands between patients and after touching materials that may spread infection. Sometimes we're assuming too much. Yet it is this simple act of hand washing -- something we take for granted -- that is the single most important thing we can do to cut down on the spread of HAI.


Hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities must take the steps necessary to educate ALL staff regarding HAI. It is not only a tremendous financial drain on our already overburdened facilities, it is a matter of life and death -- mostly preventable death. The following video, from The Department of Health and Human and Services, Centers for Disease Control, educates patients on simple steps they can take when in a hospital.V

The single most important thing you can do is always wash your hands, when coming home from being in the public.

People do not realize they need also to keep up their immune system. It is the single most important thing that you can do.

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