Exeter Hospital Limits Infections

Fewer patients are acquiring infections at Exeter Hospital.

Last year, seven patients acquired an infection -- all of them during surgical procedures. In 2009, that number was ten.

Exeter Hospital's improvement in that category was shared by most hospitals across the state, according to a recently released state report.

Last year, 114 patients acquired an infection at state hospitals. That number was 134 in 2009.

The state Department of Health and Human Services in recent years has focused on limited hospital-acquired infections.

“The numbers are showing improvement over last year so we are encouraged by that and hope to see a continued improvement in the future," said Dr. José Montero, of DHHS.

Most of the state hospitals surveyed, including Exeter, met or exceeded national standards for infections.

The report can be found here: www.dhhs.state.nh.us/dphs/cdcs/hai/documents/hai2010.pdf.