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Pennsylvania releases new HAI rates

Infection Control Monitor, April 11, 2008

More than 30,000 people contracted infections in 2006 while being treated at Pennsylvania hospitals, according to a state report released this week.

About 19 patients in 1,000 got healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), reported the Philadelphia Inquirer. Pennsylvania was the first state in the country to require hospitals to report certain HAIs and in 2006 publicly reported infection rates for each facility.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council reported the latest statistics and found that patients who got infections were hospitalized an average of 19 days, compared with fewer than five days for those without an HAI, the Inquirer reported. Costs for patients with HAIs averaged $176,000, compared with less than $34,000 for other patients.

The most common infections were urinary tract infections. The data also showed the statewide rate of infections decreased 7% from a three-month period in 2006 compared to 2005, the Inquirer reported. Click here to see the report.

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