Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) as infections caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that occur during the course of receiving medical care. This is a rapidly evolving field with tremendous interest from the public, regulatory bodies and the policymakers alike. The overall annual direct medical costs of HAIs to US hospitals is estimated between 30 and 45 Billion US$. The majority of HAIs are preventable with adequate planning and follow up. The availability of the details of HAIs in the public domain has resulted in robust infection control measures by medical facilities across the US. The Medicare non-payment for HAIs has also bolstered the overall infection control efforts.
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