Preface - Use of Biocidal Surfaces for Reduction of Healthcare Acquired Infections - page 1

Chapter 1
Preface
Gadi Borkow
Contents
References . . ....................................................................................... 4
Healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) have become a very significant medical
concern both in developed and in developing countries, especially as microorgan-
isms have developed high resistance to the existent antibiotics arsenal. While no
exact numbers exist, it is assessed that millions of people worldwide acquire a HAI
each year. These infections contribute significantly to morbidity, mortality and
hospitalization costs. For example, in the United States alone, it was estimated
that ~2 million HAI occur each year by all types of microorganisms, causing or
contributing to ~100,000 deaths and adding ~$10 billion in additional healthcare
expenses annually [ 1 - 3 ].
In order to reduce HAI rates, the medical community has developed aggressive
measures - such as use of disposable equipment, healthcare staff education for
improved hygiene, increased number of nurses and infection control personnel,
isolation of infected patients, better ventilation management, use of high-efficiency
particulate air filters, improved disinfection regimens, and use of aggressive anti-
biotic control programs. Indeed, all these measures have resulted in significantly
lower HAI rates; however, even in hospitals where these infection control measures
are rigorously implemented, the HAI rates are still unacceptably high, and it is clear
that the current modalities to eliminate HAIs are not sufficient. The risk of an
individual to acquire an infection while in the hospital is still intolerable and
additional ways to fight HAI need to be developed (Fig. 1.1 ).
There is increasing evidence that potentially overlooked and neglected sources
of nosocomial pathogens that significantly contribute to HAI are contaminated
non-intrusive soft and hard surfaces located in the clinical surroundings, and that