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Poor nations face 'greater hospital infection burden' | Poor nations face 'greater hospital infection burden' |
(1 day later) | |
The fight against malaria and TB in the developing world should not obscure the problems poor countries face with hospital infections, experts say. | The fight against malaria and TB in the developing world should not obscure the problems poor countries face with hospital infections, experts say. |
A team led by World Health Organization researchers found poorer countries had much higher infection rates than the developed world. | A team led by World Health Organization researchers found poorer countries had much higher infection rates than the developed world. |
They reviewed 220 previous studies, finding infection rates were three times higher than in the US. | They reviewed 220 previous studies, finding infection rates were three times higher than in the US. |
But they said the issue was going largely unnoticed, the Lancet reported. | But they said the issue was going largely unnoticed, the Lancet reported. |
The team, which also included Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the former chief medical officer for England, looked at data going back to 1995 on a range of healthcare-associated bugs, including urinary tract, bloodstream and surgical site infections as well as hospital-acquired pneumonia. | The team, which also included Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the former chief medical officer for England, looked at data going back to 1995 on a range of healthcare-associated bugs, including urinary tract, bloodstream and surgical site infections as well as hospital-acquired pneumonia. |
Researchers found the infection rate in developing countries was 15.5 per 100 patients. In Europe it is 7.1 and in the US, 4.5. | Researchers found the infection rate in developing countries was 15.5 per 100 patients. In Europe it is 7.1 and in the US, 4.5. |
The difference in intensive care infections was even greater. In developing countries, infection rates were 47.9 per 1,000 patient-days, compared to 13.6 in the US. | The difference in intensive care infections was even greater. In developing countries, infection rates were 47.9 per 1,000 patient-days, compared to 13.6 in the US. |
Simple measures | Simple measures |
The researchers said simple, low cost measures such as better hand hygiene, surveillance and staff education could make a big difference. | The researchers said simple, low cost measures such as better hand hygiene, surveillance and staff education could make a big difference. |
Professor Didier Pittet, one of the lead researchers, said: "There can be a misconception that healthcare-associated infections are not often found in developing countries, simply because their healthcare systems are blitzed with other issues that high-income countries have dealt with or controlled long ago." | Professor Didier Pittet, one of the lead researchers, said: "There can be a misconception that healthcare-associated infections are not often found in developing countries, simply because their healthcare systems are blitzed with other issues that high-income countries have dealt with or controlled long ago." |
Dr Victor Rosenthal, of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium, which was set up to tackle hospital infections globally, welcomed the research, saying: "Health-care-associated infections in developing countries are a serious issue that is scarcely addressed in the scientific literature." | |
He added it was likely the higher infection rates were leading to deaths, longer hospital stays and extra costs and called on steps to be taken to tackle the problems. | He added it was likely the higher infection rates were leading to deaths, longer hospital stays and extra costs and called on steps to be taken to tackle the problems. |
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