Infection rate in government hospitals alarmingly high

Karachi (PPI) - Infection control system in Pakistani hospitals is in shambles and a large number of admitted patients die after catching infections from hospitals. Up to 15 percent deaths in private hospitals and 70 percent deaths in government-run hospitals are attributable to different types of infection, said Infection Control Society Pakistan President Dr. M. Rafiq Khanani. Talking to PPI here on Wednesday, he said that the infection rate is far higher in government sector hospitals in our country than private hospitals. He said in a few high standard private hospitals only 2 to 3 % infection rate is reported.
He added that 12 to 15 % patients catch infected when doctors, paramedics and other healthcare professionals perform different procedures on them without carrying out standard infection control measures.
The rate of infection during surgeries is very high as 10 to 12 % patients are infected during their surgeries.
He added that overall 12 to 15 % patients are infected during different medical procedures in government hospitals, which is alarming.
Dr. Khanani said that the situation is far worse in small private hospitals like maternity homes and other healthcare units where 15 to 20 % patients are infected during different healthcare procedures. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism in Pakistan to make doctors, paramedics and medical technicians accountable for spreading hospital infection in their patients, he added. The infection rate is very high in government hospitals as the doctors have a huge workload. He said the number of patients in government hospitals is very high and doctors and other medical staff often fail to take proper precautions for infection prevention in their patients.
He said almost all government hospitals lack a proper in-built infection control system at their premises. We have recommended the government to form infection control committees in each and every hospital, for auditing all health professionals for their medical procedures, he said. We are working with department of health in this regard and have proposed committees in different hospitals.