PROBLEM: Death Due to Hospital Infections
It is admitted that over 5% of hospital patients per year suffer diseases that they acquire in hospitals*; over 100,000 people die annually. It is believed that these figures are extremely conservative/grossly under-reported. Pennsylvania just reported that their state alone suffers over $2 Billion losses due to this inimical, widespread medical problem.

Example of Transfer of Infectious Germs in a Hospital Setting:
Of interesting note: In a recent medical study revealing an unsuspected source of hospital disease contamination is the transfer of germs via doctor’s neckties. This “Cross-Contamination” occurs when a doctor leans across and comes in contact with an infectious patient, bedding or hospital gown. The necktie then becomes a carrier to other patients.
* These hospital-acquired diseases are known as “nosocomial infections”.

A review published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that the increase of hospital-acquired infections per 1,000 bed days increased by 36.1 percent between 1975 and 1995. In the US nosocomial infections are estimated to occur in 5% of all acute care hospitalizations. This amounts to more than 2 Million cases a year resulting in an added expenditure in excess of $3 Billion. These infections are estimated to more than double the mortality and morbidity risks of any admitted patient, and they probably result in about 20,000 deaths a year.
[Source: Quoc V. Nguyen, MD. Hospital Acquired Infections. emedicine, Sept. 1, 2004]

Such infections increased the average hospital stay from 4.5 days to 14.3 in a Chicago hospital. There the risk of dying increased from 2.3% to 11.2% for infected patients.
[Source: Archives of Internal Medicine quoted in Nursing Standard, Aug. 17, 2005]

A 2004 study of Pennsylvania general acute care hospitals, found that nosocomial infections accounted for 1510 additional deaths, 205,000 additional hospital days, and $2 Billion in additional hospital charges. The number of infections is likely under reported. [PHC4 Research Briefs, July 2005]

Please give me you thoughts?