Biological hazards and healthcare-associated infections in Italian healthcare facilities: some considerations on inspections and accountability

Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunità
A Messineo, L T Marsella

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections are a major clinical and public health problem that involve, in a variety of ways, healthcare professionals, hospital administrators and, above all, patients. In Italy, the incidence of infectious complications generally varies from 5-10% (hospitalized patients) to 1% (home care patients); 5-10% of such infections manifest epidemically, and infections caused by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are becoming more and more common, with a mortality rate of 20-30%. Moreover, any "preventable deaths or serious injuries" attributable to a (concrete) causality resulting from a breach of rules, laws and regulations, as well as imprudence, incompetence or negligence by the operators will determine a possibility of a penal prosecution for manslaughter or grievous bodily harm, and also generate expenses for civil procedures and insurance compensation. The adoption of company policies covering appropriate risk assessment, epidemiological monitoring, implementation of guidelines, procedures and protocols, activity of the Hospital Infections Committee and proper communication between managers and facilities, training of healthcare personnel and medical surveillance of employees can help reduce the adverse p...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 3, 2019·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Maria D'AccoltiElisabetta Caselli

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antimicrobial Resistance (ASM)

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections.