The Consequences of Inadequate Hospital Hygiene

The work of hygiene teams in hospitals is often difficult to measure and is frequently associated primarily with costs. But the crucial question should be: What would it cost if there was no adequate hygiene?

The True Costs of Poor Hygiene

The financial impact of missing or inadequate hygiene would certainly be significantly higher than investments in:

• Qualified hygiene personnel
• Preventive measures
• Modern hygiene systems
• Training and education
• Quality assurance

Skilled Labor Shortage as a Critical Challenge

A particular challenge is the acute shortage of skilled professionals in the hygiene sector:

Specialist for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine

• Most sought-after specialist position in Germany
• Critical shortage of qualified professionals
• Growing demand in all healthcare facilities

Current Situation

According to a study by Nachtigall and Bonsignore (2018):

• Clear discrepancy between demand and availability
• Shortage of hospital hygienists
• Insufficient number of hygiene specialists
• Rising hygiene standard requirements

Investment in the Future

The implementation of effective hygiene measures is not an optional expense, but a necessary investment in:

• Patient safety
• Quality of medical care
• Hospital efficiency
• Facility reputation
• Future viability of the healthcare system

Conclusion

The importance of hospital hygiene cannot be overestimated. Instead of viewing it as a cost factor, healthcare facilities should understand it as an essential investment in the quality and safety of their services.

For more information, see the publication by Irit Nachtigall and Marzia Bonsignore (2018).