Clinical germs Better infection protection needed

Experts call for improvement in hospital hygiene

11/30/2014

Hospital germs endanger the health of numerous patients. Every year, up to 15,000 people die from such infections in Germany. Experts now demand that the infection protection in German hospitals must be massively tightened.

Tightening of infection protection
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, up to 15,000 people die from hospital infections each year in Germany. For years, unhygienic conditions have repeatedly been reported in clinics. Just recently, the Berlin Charité had defended itself against allegations of hospital germs. Especially for older people or those with a weakened immune system, infections can be dangerous and cause, for example, inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting or blood poisoning. Experts are now calling for a massive tightening of infection control in German hospitals. This is to be achieved through strict statutory reporting obligations, more money and personnel for hygiene as well as MRSA germ tests for all inpatient new admissions.

„To get a grip on resistant pathogens“
„We now have to set the course for tackling resistant pathogens“, said Vice President of the German Society for Hospital Hygiene (DGKH), Walter Popp, opposite the appearing in Essen „West German Allgemeine Zeitung“ (WAZ) on Saturday. There must be a legal reporting obligation for all multidrug-resistant germs. In the future, in addition to MRSA infections, germ colonization on the skin should also be reported. In addition, it should be regulated by law that there are more nurses and for intensive care units called Popp „at least one caregiver on two patients“.

Hygiene checks by health authorities
For a stronger control of hygiene by health authorities, the chairman of the Professional Association of German Hygienists (BDH), Klaus-Dieter Zastrow said. He told the newspaper that „Several unannounced inspections per year in infection-relevant risk areas such as preterm and intensive care units“ necessary. He told the WAZ that the results should be published annually. „Even outbreaks of resistant pathogens must be made public so that patients know what problem there is in which clinic“, so Zastrow. (Ad)