Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections are a major problem throughout the world, affecting developed countries as well as resource-poor countries. The World Health Organization reports that hospital-acquired infections are “among the major causes of death and increased morbidity among hospitalized patients” and estimates that more than 1.4 million people per annum, worldwide suffer from infectious complications from a hospital stay.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 99,000 people die from hospital-acquired infections each year. A National Audit Office report in the United Kingdom cites that between 5 and 10 percent of all patients admitted to hospital will become infected during their stay, typically requiring extended stays and additional care. There is also a significant risk of death from such infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for more than 10 percent of all hospital-acquired infections. This is an area where there is a real need for a novel therapeutic.