A national survey sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to assess consumer awareness of serious infections found a majority of consumers (66 percent) have either heard or read about the problem of antibiotic resistance in treating serious infections.
The majority (52 percent) believe antibiotic resistance is a very or extremely serious problem in the U.S. healthcare system overall. Most consumers (85 percent) also understand that many strains of bacteria are currently resistant to the antibiotics that were once effective in treating them.
"Antibiotic resistance is a significant factor in the rise in serious infections, and is making it more difficult for clinicians to treat infections," said Susan J. Rehm, MD, NFID medical director and staff physician, Department of Infectious Disease, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "As existing antibiotics become less effective against the bacteria that cause serious infections, we need to have new antibiotic options available to physicians to treat these infections."
Experience with Infections
The survey revealed that a total of 52 percent of all consumers have contracted a serious infection in the hospital or the community or know someone who has. Among people who have contracted these infections, 43 percent of those with hospital-associated infections and 19 percent of those with community-acquired infections describe the infection as extremely severe or the most severe medical condition they have had.
Despite this high level of awareness and experience, there is almost no realization of the extent of the issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), two million patients contract hospital-associated infections annually, yet 91 percent of consumers believe this number to be lower, according to the survey.
The survey found that more than one-third of consumers (36 percent) are familiar with community-acquired infections, and have heard of a person who contracted these infections in a health club or school facility. In fact, almost one-quarter (23 percent) of consumers have personally acquired an infection in the community.
"The results of this survey reflect growing consumer awareness of and experience with serious infections," said Dr. Rehm. "The incidence of these infections is on the rise. As more consumers come in contact with these infections, they will begin to realize that this is a growing healthcare concern."
The prevalence of serious infections has added to the cost of U.S. healthcare. The CDC estimates that hospital-associated infections alone add as much as $5 billion annually to the cost of healthcare. Yet almost all consumers (88 percent) believed that figure to be lower.