"We're seeing an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said Dr. Timothy Dellit, the Director of Infection Control at Harborview Medical Center.
Dellit says 2 million people are infected in the nation's hospitals every year -- people who expected to get better, not sicker when they came in for treatment.
That's because hospitals contain a lot of sick patients, and their illnesses are easily passed to others, creating a huge problem.
The biggest villain: unwashed hands.
Hands can be a powerful breeding ground for deadly bacteria. A staggering number can thrive on the just the tip of a finger.
"Anywhere from 10,000 to a million bacteria per cubic centimeter, an area the size of a quarter," he said.
And yet, studies from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta show fully 60 percent of doctors and other health care workers fail to wash their hands between each patient.
Source: More Patients Suffering Infections At Hospitals - Consumer News Story - KIRO Seattle
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