Improving patient care by reducing the risk of hospital acquired infection : a progress report

The best available estimates suggest that annually there are at least 300,000 cases of hospital acquired infection, causing 5,000 deaths and costing the NHS GBP 1 billion.

This report follows on from a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (HC 876 2003-04, ISBN 0102929157) and examines the progress made by the Department of Health and NHS trusts in reducing the risks.

It looks at three main areas: the extent and impact of hospital acquired infection; improving knowledge of and compliance with good infection control practice; improving infection control systems and management processes.

The conclusion is that progress has been patchy, with a lack of urgency on several key issues such as ward cleanliness and hand hygiene.

Progress has also been hampered by a lack of data, a national mandatory surveillance programme and evidence of the effectiveness of different intervention strategies.