Rise in direct medical cost of healthcare-associated infections

Abstract

This research paper is based on the medical cost related to healthcare-associated infections that are constantly rising in the United States and reaching to its maximum and optimized level. The research paper defined that healthcare-associated infections are the infections that are caused when a patient acquires the pathogens while receiving the medical treatment or surgical treatment in the healthcare centers. This research paper scrutinized the cost of healthcare-associated infections and evaluated that the medical cost of healthcare-associated infections in constantly increasing. The intervention techniques that are used as preventive measures are also discussed in this paper. These intervention techniques and monitoring of the disease holds potential costs. This paper reported that almost one out of every twenty patients those are hospitalized has been diagnosed with the Healthcare-associated infections. Healthcare-associated infections have an economic effect on the healthcare system of a nation. This research paper addresses issues of morbidity and mortality. The paper concludes with the thesis statements that direct medical cost of healthcare-associated infections is increasing and on the average basis, the direct medical cost of Healthcare-associated infections each year is between $25 million to $45 million.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction3

Discussion4

Healthcare-associated infection and its types4

Direct medical costs of Healthcare-associated infections in US hospitals6

Rising cost associated with infections contracted in healthcare facilities7

Implementation plans for reducing healthcare-associated infections9

Conclusion10

References11

Annotated bibliography11

Rise in direct medical cost of healthcare-associated infections

Introduction

The healthcare-associated infections hold higher cost and its costs are rising in United States. Healthcare-associated infections are the infections that are acquired by the patients during the period of acquiring treatment for other medical conditions. Healthcare-associated infections are dangerous and deadly. Healthcare-associated infections are the main cause of increased number of mortality rate in United States. It is included in the list of top ten diseases that causes death in United States. It is reported that almost one out of every twenty patients those are hospitalized has been diagnosed with the Healthcare-associated infections (Scott, 2009). The two important attributes of healthcare-associated infection (HAIs) are cost of hospital and length-of-stay (LOS). Healthcare-associated infections have an economic effect on the healthcare system of a nation. Healthcare-associated infections are widely researched by the medical researchers because it affects on around 1.7 million hospitalizations per year. Moreover, Healthcare-associated infections are directly related to the cost and length-of-stay of the patient in the hospital. In 1970, a study was conducted on the “Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control”, in which, the annual direct cost of healthcare-associated infections was included. The report concluded that out of 100 hospitalizations, the direct cost of healthcare-associated infections on annual basis per 4.5 patients was $4.5 billion in 1992. On the average basis, the direct medical cost of Healthcare-associated infections each year is between $25 million to $45 million. The medical cost of healthcare-associated infections is constantly increasing. Morbidity rate and mortality rate amplifies because of the increasing ration of Healthcare-associated infections in the patients. It is reported that almost one out of every twenty patients those are hospitalized has been diagnosed with ...