Website rates hospitals for hygiene and infections

The Scientific Institute for Public Health (ISP) has created a public overview of the efforts of local hospitals to prevent on-site infections. The scores of 105 Belgian hospitals concerning hygiene can be examined online and will be updated every year.

WIV has criticised the shortcomings of epidemiological monitoring of infections contracted in intensive care units and after surgeries. Because of this, many hospitals are not able to provide precise statistics on infections contracted inside their premises. The report also emphasises hospitals’ insufficient screening of prevention efforts.

To improve figures on hospital infections, hospitals should integrate the strategic plan for hospital hygiene, said ISP. Another recommendation is for policymakers to send independent organisations to confirm the data provided by hospitals.

The report also includes good news, pointing to the strong decrease of the number of infections related to the MRSA bacterium, which are difficult to treat. The occurrence of these infections in Belgium has decreased by one-third in the last decade: from three cases per 1,000 patients in 2003 to one case per 1,000 in 2013. According toISP, hand hygiene policies are to thank for the decrease.