Romero-Mora KA, Soto-Ramírez LE

Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 214-218
PDF size: 91.72 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Health care-associated infections affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide every year. As an unintended result of seeking care, these infections lead to more serious illness, prolong hospital stays, and induce long-term disability. Not only do they inflict unexpected high costs on patients and their families, they also lead to a massive additional financial burden on the health-care system and –last but not least– contribute to unnecessary patient deaths. However, most infections are preventable. Hand hygiene is the primary measure to reduce infections ever since Semmelweis observed its immense effect on the incidence of childbed fever. Though the action is simple, the lack of compliance among health-care providers is problematic throughout the world. Let us remind ourselves that «Clean Care is Safer Care» is not a choice, but a patient´s basic right to quality care. Clean hands prevent suffering and save lives.

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