Fighting Infections In Healthcare Facilities

While hospitals and urgent care centers are among the highest-risk facilities for the spread of deadly infections, the numbers aren't always reflective of it. Cleaning these facilities is a safety issue, yet budgets often aren't allocated appropriately for environmental services. Low budgets result in understaffed departments, which creates lasting issues when it comes to infection control.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.7 million people are affected annually by hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), killing 100,000 and costing the healthcare system between $35 and $45 billion, annually. Additional penalties for readmittance due to HAI contraction can be steep and unforgiving, depending on the severity of the case. In 2019, 800 hospitals nationwide received reduced Medicare payments, with 110 locations receiving reductions for the fifth consecutive year.

• $15,000: Average cost when a patient contracts an HAl.
• 1 in 31: The number of patients with at least one HAI on any given day.
• 30: Minimum number of days patients must stay out of hospitals before Medicare will reimburse for treatment.
• $40,000: Average cost of UV disinfection equipment.
• $14,000: Average treatment cost of a MRSA infection.
• Up to 51 Percent: Number of surgical patients that contract a post-op antibiotic resistant infection.