Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a globally emerging concern with increasing impact on healthcare and patient treatment costs. According to recent figures of US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the about 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections which occur in the US each year are responsible for an estimated 100,000 deaths and account for expenditures in excess of $5 billion.  Latest figures from the European Commission report approximately 3 million HCAIs and 50,000 related deaths in the European Union each year1). The Commission recently announced that it will make the fight against HCAIs one of its main priorities for 2008.

In addition to the human tragedy involved, the HCAI related death toll has a significant economic impact on national economies, estimated at more than €40 billion annually in the EU. Insurance reimbursement changes, pending and existing legislation in the US are bringing a greater focus on this problem.

For example, as of October 2008, the US Medicare system will no longer provide reimbursement for complications associated with a select list of preventable hospital-acquired infections. This will certainly provide an incentive for hospitals to find new ways to prevent hospital-acquired infections. Thus, reducing HCAIs will not only improve patient care and outcomes, but will also reduce healthcare costs from a payer perspective.