In hospitals in Europe, approximately 6% of patients are affected by a healthcare-associated infection. In Belgium, this number is slightly higher (7%) and is estimated at approximately 110,000 patients per year. The most common healthcare-associated infections are:
- wound infections after operations
- urinary tract infections after catheterization
- pneumonia after ventilation (intubation)
- bloodstream infections after prolonged catheter use..
Although healthcare-associated infections are also found in residential care centers, the situation is more favorable there (3.5%). Due to the higher number of residents, the total number of nursing home residents affected by a healthcare-associated infection (approx. 170,000) each year is higher than that in hospitals.