Health

Almost 44,000 healthcare-associated infections a year in Irish hospitals, report finds

Over 40 per cent of Irish patients are treated with antimicrobials, ECDC estimates

The Irish figures are close to European averages, according to the disease watchdog, which estimates 4.3 million patients across the EU acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay in hospital. Photograph: iStock

Paul Cullen
Mon May 6 2024 - 10:00

Almost 44,000 patients a year pick up an infection while in an Irish hospital, according to a report from the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).

On any given day, an estimated 7.5 per cent of Irish patients will have a healthcare-associated infection – equivalent to 915 patients a day.

Meanwhile, almost 41 per cent of patients are treated with antimicrobials – the equivalent of 5,000 patients at any given time, the ECDC estimates.

The Irish figures are close to European averages, according to the disease watchdog, which estimates 4.3 million patients across the EU acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) during their stay in hospital. The findings are contained in the ECDC’s third survey of HAIs and antimicrobial use in hospitals, carried out in 2022/2023.

READ MORE

“Healthcare-associated infections pose a significant challenge to patient safety in hospitals throughout Europe. These recent numbers highlight the urgent need for further actions to mitigate this threat,” said Dr Andrea Ammon, ECDC director.

“By prioritising infection prevention and control policies and practices, as well as antimicrobial stewardship and improving surveillance, we can effectively combat the spread of these infections and protect the health of patients across the EU.”

Ireland has one of the lowest levels of masking in Europe, the survey indicates. Twenty per cent of Irish hospitals reported a policy of targeted continuous use of medical masks, and none had universal masking. In contrast, universal masking was reported in all hospitals in Austria.

In this survey, Covid-19 emerged as a significant contributor to healthcare-associated infections compared to previous surveys. Sars-CoV-2 ranked as the fourth most common micro-organism in these infections.

Respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and Covid-19, represented nearly one-third of all reported HAIs, followed by urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, bloodstream infections and gastrointestinal infections.

Use of antimicrobials went up compared to previous surveys, to 35.5 per cent across the EU.

The ECDC expressed concern that one in three micro-organisms detected in HAIs were antibiotic-resistant, thus limiting treatment options.

It said at least 20 per cent of infections are deemed preventable by better prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene, hand sanitiser and single rooms.

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen is a former heath editor of The Irish Times.

LATEST STORIES