1.In the United States, 1 out of every 136 hospital patients becomes seriously ill as a result of acquiring an infection in hospital; this is equivalent to two million cases and about 80 000 deaths a year.

2.In England, more than 100 000 cases of health care-associated infection lead to over 5000 deaths directly attributed to infection each year.

3.In Mexico, an estimated 450 000 cases of health care-associated infection cause 32 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants each year.

4.Health care-associated infections in England are estimated to cost £1 billion a year. In the United States, the estimate is between US$ 4.5 billion and US$ 5.7 billion per year. In Mexico, the annual cost approaches US$ 1.5 billion.