CareFusion Hosts Symposium to Address Global Issues of Health Care-Associated Infections
ROLLE, Switzerland, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- Hundreds of millions of patients affected worldwide, both in developing and high income countries
As International experts gather in Geneva for the first International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control(1), CareFusion announces the organization of an adjunct symposium gathering International experts to address standards to reduce health care-associated infections (HCAIs).
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As highlighted in a recent WHO report on the burden of HCAIs worldwide(2), hundreds of millions of patients are affected every year globally, in particular in intensive care units. While developing countries have a suspected high prevalence - data is insufficiently reported in many countries to have a clear picture - the report also draws attention to the little-known fact that high income countries also have a very high incidence of patient infections.
"What is surprising is the incidence of HCAIs in high income countries, such as in Europe and North America, especially since we know that 20 to 30 percent of these infections are preventable," said Mike Fairbourn, vice president of international marketing for the infection prevention business at CareFusion. "Effective implementation of evidence-based infection prevention and control procedures such as hand-washing and patient pre-operative skin preparation, have been shown to dramatically reduce avoidable healthcare associated infection."
The CareFusion symposium will address strategies and standards to help reduce and prevent incidents of HCAIs. The event will be led by leaders in the field:
- Dr. Michael A. Borg, head of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta;
- Dr. Nizam Damani, clinical director of Infection Prevention and Control at the Southern Health & Social Services Trust; and
- Jennie Wilson, RN, author and member of the UK's Faculty of Public Health.
Over 4 million patients - that is 1 in 10 - contract a HAI every year in Europe and an estimated 37,000 patients die of infection complications each year. The total direct health care costs reach 7 billion EUR through extended hospital stay and treatment(3).
Switzerland is equally affected with an 8.8 percent prevalence rate, above the European average of 7.1 percent, with 70,000 cases of infection every year. Extra health care costs are estimated between 230 and 300 million Swiss Francs annually through extended hospital stay and further treatment.
In the U.S., 1.7 million patients are affected every year, leading to nearly 100,000 deaths and costing US$ 4.5 billion to the health care system(4).
Steve Klis, senior vice president at CareFusion International said: "The main causes of incidence include surgical site and catheter-related blood stream infections, as well as ventilation-associated pneumonia. Through our knowledge and comprehensive product portfolio, CareFusion is uniquely positioned to be the catalyst in bringing experts together to address this growing global issue."
The CareFusionsymposium, entitled "Setting Standards for Reducing the Global Burden of Health Care-Associated Infections", takes place on 29 June 2011 from 13.00 till 14.30 at The University of Geneva Hospitals.
About CareFusion
CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve patient care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris® infusion pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AirLife™, AVEA® and LTV® series of ventilators and respiratory products, ChloraPrep® skin prep products, MedMined™ services for data mining surveillance, V. Mueller® and Snowden-Pencer® surgical instruments and NeuroCare diagnostic products. CareFusion employs more than 14,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at http://www.carefusion.com.
(2) Report on the Burden of Endemic Health Care-Associated Infection Worldwide, World Health Organization, 2011 ( http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501507_eng.pdf)
(3) Annual epidemiological report on communicable diseases in Europe 2008. Report on the status of communicable diseases in the EU and EEA/EFTA countries. Stockholm, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2008
(4) Klevens RM et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Reports, 2007, 122:160-166
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