|
(NaturalNews) Three new studies have determined that infections in hospitals come from the unsanitary conditions in the hospitals themselves, and not from sick patients. As a result, these new studies provide evidence for experts who argue that hospitals could prevent many of the growing number of infections that afflict patients nationwide
Infections from dirty hospitals also cost billions of dollars to treat, and are responsible for thousands of deaths each year. David B. Nash, chairman of the Department of Health Policy at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, said "It's the process, not the patients … these three groups independently found that despite hospitals' claim that in the sickest patients it's inevitable that someone is going to get a hospital-acquired infection, that's just not the case."
According to Nash, health professionals should do more to promote hand-washing among medical staff in addition to taking greater care in donning gowns and other infection-preventing clothing during medical procedures. Nash also suggested that reducing traffic in and out of operating rooms was needed, as well as isolating patients when necessary and using antibiotics more selectively as potential solutions to the problem.
Studies in recent years have determined that patients with hospital-acquired infections spend many more days in the hospital, undergo more extensive procedures and are more likely to die than patients who do not contract the same infections. In fact, this lingering problem has been the subject of congressional hearings and reports by the Federal Institute of Medicine.
Nash also said the government could do more to educate the public and encourage hospitals to report infections in addition to patients asking doctors and nurses if they washed their hands before treatment occurs.
Nancy Foster -- vice president for quality and patient safety at the American Hospital Association -- said that hospitals agree with Nash's suggestions.
###
Related Articles
• Hospitals may be hazardous to your health
• New Study Shows Need for a Major Overhaul of How United States Manages Chronic Illness (press release)
• The Cleveland Clinic battles with McDonald's over fast food in hospitals
• Rising popularity of medical tourism reveals deterioration of U.S. healthcare system
• Fast food restaurants at children's hospitals influence parents to feed their families unhealthy meals
 |
Additional Resources:
hospitals
infections
hospital
|
Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com
 Email this article to a friend
 Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us
Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/021167.html
Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.
|
 |
 |
Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE
 Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber!
- Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more.
- Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.
|
|
 |
 |
Recommended Special Report:
 Seven Words that can Change the World
by Joseph R. Simonetta
Read this special report now...
"Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com
|
More on NaturalNews.com:
• Streaming Health Ranger Videos
• CounterThink Cartoons
• FREE Special Reports
• Podcasts
|
 |
|
Printable Version
