Burden of five healthcare associated infections in Australia (11, 69, 2022)

Summary: This study estimates the burden of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in Australian public hospitals using a standard international framework. The results show that there are approximately 170,574 HAIs occurring in adults admitted to public hospitals in Australia annually, resulting in 7583 deaths. Hospital acquired pneumonia is the most frequent HAI, followed by surgical site infections and urinary tract infections. The study highlights the high burden of HAIs in Australia and the need for continued investment in prevention efforts.