Hospital-Acquired Infections Are Rising – Here’s How To Protect Yourself

Whether a patient or visitor, hand hygiene while at the hospital is critical.

By Nasia Safdar, Wisconsin-Madison
Aug 2, 2024 2:00 PM
hospital-patients-and-doctor
(Credit: Luis Alvarez/Digital Vision via Getty Images)

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A new study from the National Institutes of Health shows a jump in both hospital-acquired infections and resistance to the antibiotics used to treat them. The findings are based on data gathered at 120 U.S. hospitals from January 2018 to December 2022, a five-year period that included the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Nasia Safdar, a professor of infectious medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses why infection rates have gone up and how you can protect yourself as a hospital patient or visiting family member.

Nasia Safdar discusses the dangers of hospital-acquired infections.


The Conversation has collaborated with SciLine to bring you highlights from the discussion that have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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