The Fiscal Case for Fighting HAI — Part 2

The Priciest Pathogens

Unsurprisingly, costs spike when an infection is caused by a superbug — by $6,000 to $30,000 per patient, according to a study conducted in China. Compared to first-line medications, the last-resort drugs required to treat these infections are more expensive and more toxic, triggering side effects that demand additional medical treatment.

Clostridium difficile (C. diff)

Clostridium difficile, in particular, "represents a significant economic burden," according to a systematic review of 42 American studies:

• Case-Management Costs: Averaged $42,316 per patient.
• Annual U.S. Impact: Costs U.S. hospitals $6.3 billion annually and requires nearly 2.4 million extra inpatient days.

More worrisome is the alarming increase in C. difficile infections reported worldwide, along with higher recurrence rates and the emergence of more virulent bacterial strains.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA infections hit hospital budgets hard as well, costing U.S. hospitals $3.2 billion to $4.2 billion annually, largely due to extended hospital stays.

Bacterial vs. Viral Outbreak Costs

In general, bacterial outbreaks cost hospitals considerably more than viral outbreaks. "This is mainly due to easier and quicker detection, which reduces the duration and the microbiological costs," scientists in the Netherlands concluded.

The Impact of Norovirus

Still, hospitals can ill afford outbreaks of norovirus, measles, influenza, and other airborne or contact viruses.

Norovirus places a "substantial burden on healthcare systems," costing the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK approximately £298 million per year. Primary cost drivers include:

• Beds kept unoccupied for infection control
• Staff absences due to infection
• Rigorous cleaning and disinfection requirements

During one three-year period, norovirus outbreaks kept 57,800 beds empty. British researchers reported:

"Overall, the total number of bed-days tied up by norovirus-associated gastroenteritis annually is equivalent to the entire daily NHS hospital bed capacity in England being unavailable for more than 2 days."

Investing in Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections

Mindful of budget constraints, hospitals tend to invest minimally in infection prevention. But this approach is "penny wise, pound foolish," suggest researchers who analyzed infection costs across 28 American hospitals.

Reducing infections by just 25%, they estimated, could save these hospitals $6.5 million annually. Prevention consistently costs less than containment — but where should funds be directed?

Hand Hygiene & Surface Cleaning

Improving hand hygiene is essential, as hospital workers' hands are a primary vector for pathogen transmission. Facilities must provide accessible hand alcohol rubs, maintain sinks and dispensers, and continuously train and monitor staff.

Hospitals must also invest in surface cleaning and disinfection. Pathogens linger on high-touch surfaces like bed rails, doorknobs, privacy curtains, IV poles, stretchers, supply carts, and blood pressure cuffs.

However, hand hygiene and surface cleaning alone fall short. Personnel are stretched thin, and human error is inevitable.

"We are trying to solve problems of today with instruments of the past. It is time to rethink our approach and combine existing strategies with new technology." — Ojan Assadian, M.D., President of the Austrian Society for Infection Control

Air Disinfection: The Missing Piece in Infection Control

The most effective technology available to hospitals focuses on continuous air disinfection.

Airborne transmission of MRSA, C. difficile, norovirus, tuberculosis, and other pathogens is common. A single vomiting episode can release 13,000 norovirus particles into the air, while infection can occur from consuming or inhaling as few as 20 viral particles.

Sneezing, coughing, talking, and breathing launch infectious microbes airborne, where they hover for hours before being inhaled or settling onto surfaces.

Continuous Pathogen Inactivation with NanoStrike™ Technology

It is critical to inactivate airborne pathogens before they settle on surfaces. NanoStrike™ technology, deployed by Novaerus portable air disinfection units, inactivates pathogens on contact 24/7. Unlike standard HEPA filters that merely trap microbes, Novaerus technology neutralizes them continuously, reducing facility infection rates.

"Clostridium difficile and other infection rates are dropping at our hospital," reports László Urbán, M.D., Ph.D., director-general of Hungary’s Mátrai Gyógyintézet hospital, which installed 68 Novaerus units. Read the full Hungarian hospital success story .

Given the high costs associated with surgical-site infections (SSIs), hospitals frequently install Novaerus units in operating theatres, isolation rooms, ICUs, emergency rooms, and neonatal wards.

While hospitals may assume they cannot afford extra investments in prevention, the data shows the opposite: Hospitals cannot afford not to invest in air disinfection.