Notable numbers

98,987 – Number of US deaths in which hospital- acquired infections are a contributing factor. This is 2x the number of deaths due to car accidents annually in the US.

12,000 – The estimated annual number of health care associated S. aureus blood stream infections in the US. Beginning in 2007 Medicare will no longer reimburse for these infections.

40 – The number of days Clostridium difficile has been proven to survive in a hospital room.  The use of Dispatch (diluted bleach wipes) and hand hygiene with soap and water will stop the transmission of this organism.

11 – The number of days that MRSA microbes have been shown to survive on common hospital materials such as laminated table tops. Wiping with Caviwipes will stop this contamination.

Source: Dana Farber Cancer Institute