Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) are infections acquired in hospitals or due to healthcare interventions. They are caused by a wide variety of micro-organisms, including bacteria that normally live harmlessly in or on our bodies.
The National Audit Office estimates 5,000 people die each year from infections such as MRSA, and that it costs the NHS £1bn a year.
MRSA
Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that is resistant to commonly used antibiotics, and is present in around 3% of the population. MRSA is no more infectious than other strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), but can be more difficult to treat and therefore infections may become more severe.
C. difficile
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that lives in the gut of about 3% of healthy adults in England and 66% of children. It is kept at bay by normal gut bacteria; but if those bacteria are killed by antibiotics, C. difficile can take over.
Find out more about HCAIs on the Department of Health website.