Hospitals are cutting staff, IT resources and education for infection prevention at a time when healthcare-associated infections are on the rise, says a new report.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology's (APIC) "2009 APIC Economic Survey" found that of the nearly 2,000 infection prevention specialists who responded, 41 percent reported reductions in budgets for infection prevention in the last 18 months due primarily to the economic downturn.

According to the survey, three-quarters of those whose budgets were cut experienced decreases in necessary education that trains healthcare personnel in preventing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (a bacteria that causes diarrhea). Half saw reductions in overall budgets for infection prevention, including money for technology, staff, education, products, equipment and updated resources. Nearly 40 percent experienced layoffs or reduced hours, and a third experienced hiring freezes.

"We are concerned by these findings," said APIC President Christine J. Nutty. "At a time when the federal government will be requiring hospitals to meet national targets for HAI reduction, infection prevention departments at our nation's healthcare facilities need to be growing, not shrinking."

A third of the survey's respondents reported that cuts in staffing and resources have reduced their capacity to focus on infection prevention activities. A quarter said they have had to reduce surveillance activities to detect, track and monitor HAIs.

"Every healthcare facility must have the resources to identify infections, conduct a systematic investigation to determine the cause and implement and evaluate prevention measures," said Nutty. "These are the most essential components of infection prevention."

According to the survey, only one in five respondents have data mining programs – electronic surveillance systems that allow infection prevention specialists to discover and investigate potential infections in real-time. Nearly two-thirds have one or less than one full-time staff person dedicated to infection prevention, while almost 90 percent have no staff or less than a full-time staff person for clerical or analytic support.

"Infection prevention departments at our nation's healthcare facilities are severely understaffed and under-resourced," said APIC CEO Kathy L. Warye. "Without enough trained professionals, funding and high-tech solutions that speed access to infection-related data, we are not going to continue to make progress in eliminating preventable infections. While cuts in staff, training and technology may ease budgets in the shortterm, the effect of increased infections will erode the bottom line over time, not to mention cause needless pain, suffering and death."

"Healthcare executives must invest in their infection prevention programs. It's the right thing for patients and it saves hospitals money," Warye added.