The Consequences of Inadequate Hospital Hygiene

The Work of Hospital Hygiene Teams Is Often Difficult to Measure

Unfortunately, hygiene is often associated with costs.
But the central question should be:
What would it cost if there were no hygiene?

These expenses would certainly be much higher than those for hygiene personnel and associated measures.

Another major challenge is the shortage of qualified hygiene professionals.
The “Specialist in Hygiene and Environmental Medicine” is currently the most sought-after medical specialty in Germany.
In a publication by Irit Nachtigall and Marzia Bonsignore (2018), they highlight that the demand for hospital hygienists and hygiene professionals far exceeds the current supply.

This, along with additional information, is illustrated in the accompanying infographic.

Here is the English translation of the infographic titled "Ökonomische Auswirkungen der Hygiene" ("Economic Impact of Hygiene"):

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Economic Impact of Hygiene

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400,000 to 600,000

treatment-associated infections occur per year in Germany.

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A nosocomial infection leads to...

3–7 days longer hospital stay
additional therapy, laboratory, and personnel costs

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€2,702 to €13,000

Additional cost per infection

€2 billion

Estimated total burden per year

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Personnel Requirements

• Hospital Hygienists

  • Required: 850
  • Current: 250

• Hygiene Specialists

  • Required: 5,100
  • Current: 2,118

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€245 million

Additional spending per year to meet personnel requirements

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15% reduction

in nosocomial infections would offset the required personnel investments