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Sad tales attest to infection woes

Bill requiring Colorado hospitals to report in-house rates advances

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 21, 2006 at midnight

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An estimated 100,000 people die every year from infections they acquire in U.S. hospitals.

Tony Zalatan was not quite so unlucky. He only lost both of his legs.

The Littleton man was among a handful of witnesses who testified Thursday on behalf of House Bill 1045. It would require 200 hospitals in Colorado to report and make public the rate of hospital-acquired infections.

The measure passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a 7-0 vote.

Zalatan's legs were amputated after he developed a staph infection nearly four years ago following what was supposed to be routine surgery.

He lay in a coma for 54 days. He eventually lost his job and has had to undergo 24 surgeries as a result of the infection.

He since has lost sight in one eye, and some of his fingers have been amputated.

"Previous to the injury, I was employed as a contract engineer with Lockheed Martin, and I was an active bike rider covering over 300 miles a week," said Zalatan, who now must use a wheelchair.

"I made a handsome living, supported two families, and we had so many plans for the future. My infection had a dramatic effect upon our lives."

Zalatan's experience is indicative of "alarming new evidence" of high rates of hospital-acquired infections, estimated at more than 2 million cases each year nationwide and causing 100,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Sunshine is the best disinfection," said Sen. Moe Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, who sponsored the measure with Rep. Bob McCluskey, R-Fort Collins.

"Hospital-acquired infections are costing our nation's health care system more than $5 billion annually.

"We have an opportunity to save our state million of dollars in unnecessary medical costs," she said. No one spoke against the bill.

A coalition of nurses, doctors and health care advocates spoke on behalf of the bill, saying that it would implement a tracking system.

They said such information would help reduce infections and medical costs that are being shifted to consumers, taxpayers and victims.

Joe Beaver recounted how his wife came down with an infection from a catheter while in the hospital for tests. He said he was left paying a huge hospital bill as a result.

"The hospital should be responsible for the damage it caused," he said. "They admitted it. More needs to be done to hold hospitals accountable."

Colorado is one of 14 states considering similar legislation.

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