Mandatory disclosure makes hospitals work harder to prevent infections

Dr. Betsy McCaughey, Founder/ Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID) said that "the 2009 New York State Department of Health Hospital Acquired Infections Report (released 9/1/2010)  shows that mandatory disclosure saves lives by making hospitals work harder to prevent infections.  Statewide  rates decreased for nearly every type of infection measured.  None increased."

The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths urges New York State to include Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C.diff,  in future reports and pilot prevention programs.  This type of infection is raging through hospitals and may now be the most common hospital infection. The first line of defense is rigorous cleaning.   Invisible C. diff spores contaminate many surfaces in hospitals. In at least 90% of C. diff cases, the patients give the infection to themselves by reaching out, touching contaminated surfaces around their bedside, then touching their lips or food and swallowing the germ.   Placing a patient in an inadequately cleaned room previously occupied by a patient with C. diff can be a deadly decision, which is why effective cleaning with bleach is vitally important.  How many patients think to ask, "who occupied this room before me?"