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Article: Nanotech silver stops microbes: old, new technologies combine to reduce hospital infections.(Cover story)
- Article from:
- Products Finishing
- Article date:
- September 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Gardner Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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By Jim Destefani
Editor
Hospital-related infections are serious problem. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 2 million hospital patients a year acquire such infections. Approximately 100,000 of those afflicted die, making hospital-related infections the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.
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In addition to the personal toll there's an economic price to be paid as well. Hospital-related infections cost an average of $57,000 per patient to treat. The added cost to hospitals, patients and insurance carriers for extended care and treatment is $28-30 billion annually.
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