Should You be Concerned with Healthcare-Associated infections (HAIs)?

A wide range of pathogens have been linked to infections acquired in healthcare settings. It is crucial to engage in high-level disinfection (HLD) of semi-critical medical equipment like ultrasound probes as a fundamental measure in combatting these healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Statistics Speak for Themselves!

In a recent press conference held on Wednesday June 14, 2023 presented the results of a study carried out in partnership with BVA.

The study highlighted some alarming statistics. The risk of infection is at the forefront of French people's concerns when they enter a healthcare establishment or carry out a medical examination.[1]

For 2021, the 30 countries in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) reported a total 33,527 tuberculosis (TB) cases (7.4 per 100 000 population). The overall notification rate continued to fall; however, the EU/EEA is not on track to reach the goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.[2]

HPV: An Underestimated Infection Risk!

In certain clinical settings in Womens Health, Human papillomavirus (HPV) can contribute towards Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). Published research papers show ultrasound probes are a potential source of HPV transmission, posing a new challenge for infection prevention.[3]

Research reveals that virtually all cervical cancers (more than 99%) are caused by high-risk Human Papillomaviruses (HPV16 and HPV18 ). HPV is a highly resistant virus; more so than other non-enveloped viruses previously tested.[4]

Cervical cancer was the 4th most common cancer among women worldwide, with an estimated 604,127 new cases and 341,831 deaths?which is the 4th most common cancer death among women in 2020.[5]

About 58,169 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Europe 2020.[5]

• Cervical cancer ranks as the 9th leading cause of female cancer in Europe.
• Cervical cancer is the 3rd most common female cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years in Europe.

References: 1.French study: https://germitec.fr/risques-infectieux-et-prise-en-charge-en-france/. 2.ECDC: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/tuberculosis-annual-epidemiological-report-2021. 3.Pichon M, et al,.(2019). J. Clin. Med, 8, 1776; doi:10.3390/jcm8111776. 4.Meyers C, et al,. (2017), PLoS ONE 12 (10): e0187377. 5.(IARC) https://www.iarc.who.int/infographics/cervical-cancer-awareness-month-2021