The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals has major impacts on both clinical and financial outcomes, according to an article on the CleanLink website.

According to a recent white paper, “Understanding the Cost of HAIs and Building a Culture of Prevention, “Beyond the direct financial impact, there is also a significant opportunity cost associated with HAIs. An infected patient can be confined to a hospital bed for days or weeks beyond their initial treatment timeline, and the facility will not be reimbursed for the associated costs.

“Other indirect costs of HAIs include the increased risk of malpractice litigation and public relations concerns. In today’s increasingly consumer-driven healthcare market, negative media coverage of a hospital’s cleanliness and safety can have a significant impact on the organization’s ability to attract patients and generate revenue.”

Read the article and the white paper.