Recent survey results revealed that 34 percent of Americans have, or know someone who has, acquired an infection after being exposed to germs during a hospital stay. Moreover, the survey found that 64 percent of Americans do not think they would be better protected from germs in the hospital than in their daily lives. The findings underscore that hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are affecting perceptions of the safety of healthcare facilities and that new technologies are needed to help protect patients from hospital germs, including superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas) and E. coli. These superbugs can result in HAIs, which occur in nearly 2 million patients each year, and lead to extended hospital stays, additional healthcare costs and patient deaths.

According to newswire announcements, the survey, which was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), also found:
• Nearly 99 percent of Americans understand that the cleanliness of patient rooms has an impact on the spread of infections in hospitals.
• Americans are making decisions about where to receive hospital care based on where they perceive they will receive the safest care. In fact, 75 percent of Americans say it is more important to choose a hospital based on lower infection rates rather than on convenience when in a non-emergency situation.
• An overwhelming number (94 percent) of Americans would prefer seeking care at a hospital that uses the latest technology available for preventing the spread of infection.

According to the latest scientific research, contamination of the hospital environment, which includes hospital rooms and operating suites, plays an important role in the transmission of many superbugs that cause HAIs. Superbugs MRSA and Pseudomonas are tough to eliminate and can continue to live on surfaces in the patient environment after standard cleaning. However, studies show healthcare facilities can reduce the number of pathogens in the hospital environment by introducing enhanced, deep cleaning and disinfection protocols to augment manual cleaning practices.

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