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New strategies needed to decrease HAIs
Inefficient disinfection of hospital surfaces, instruments and rooms is attributed to the increased number of hospital-acquired infections worldwide, according to a recent report published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
“There is great concern about the growth and prevalence of [hospital-acquired infection] due to the increase incidence of resistant bacteria,” researchers wrote. “Furthermore, the development of new antibiotics is a difficult task because of high research costs and regulatory issues. Conventional cleaning methods for the eradication of hospital environmental contamination seem to be inefficient.”
According to background research, a minimum of 175,000 deaths annually in industrialized countries are attributed to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and more than 60% are linked to the attachment of different pathogens to medical implants and devices. The increased rate of HAIs is also attributed to patient-to-patient or hospital staff-to-patient cross infections. HAI incidence rate has been increasing worldwide since 1980.
Antimicrobial chemicals can be used to disinfect clinical equipment and the environment. Gas plasma, antimicrobial surfaces and vapor systems are also being investigated as possible realms of disinfection.
“Most of the data currently available have been generated by the manufacturers and need to be validated by independent investigations,” researchers wrote. “Moreover, studies concerning bacterial biology and physiology allied to genomics and computer analysis should be applied to identify and understand the pathogenesis associated with resistant bacteria and crucial targets for novel biocides. Thus, further evaluation and implementation of new measures and new disinfection methods are necessary, not forgetting their validation in terms of effectiveness, safety and disposal. Additionally, it is important always to evaluate the risk of emerging phenotypic resistance when developing new disinfection strategies.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
