Making a difference-Infection Prevention Dr Emma Watson Consultant Microbiologist Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Infection Prevention

HCAI: a global problem At any time, over 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections associated with healthcare In developed countries about 5-10% of patients admitted to acute care hospitals acquire an infection*

HCAI: England and Wales In England HCAIs are estimated to cause the deaths of at least 5000 patients every year and cost the NHS £1 billion* This equates to an infection of a patient every two minutes and the death of a patient every two hours***

Infection is a patient safety problem 1313 of HCAIs are estimated to be easily preventable*

The answer is in your hands. Hands are the main way in which infection is spread so when you clean your hands before and after every patient contact it helps to stop the bugs spreading YET most healthcare workers clean their hands less than half the number of times they should*

In the North West

Reducing MRSA

Reducing Clostridium difficile