Could the incidence of healthcare infections in Europe simply be a reflection of overall quality standards?

Abstract

The prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is fundamental for the provision of safe patient care. Indeed it has been suggested that HCAI rates can be used as indicators of healthcare quality.1 Yet, the relationship between HCAIs and non-infectious healthcare quality parameters remains largely unstudied. One possible reason for this deficit is a relative dearth of data to allow comparative studies to be performed, especially on a multinational basis. Nevertheless, usable data sources do exist within Europe.