Palermo: Conference on “Prevention and management of ICA” to combat infections in the ward.

Healthcare-associated infections, with particular reference to those associated with antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms and the incidence of infectious risks, are the topics at the center of a conference scheduled in Palermo on Thursday 5 December 2024.

The event, “Prevention and management of ICA. Clinical and medico-legal aspects” organized by the Regional Department of Health – Department for Health Activities and Epidemiological Observatory, focuses on the national Aifa data that underline how Italy has the highest resistance to bacteria compared to Europe (with 200 thousand patients a year affected by resistant bacteria), causing 11 thousand victims every year. ICAs represent one of the main threats to patient safety at a global level and constitute a public health problem with a direct economic cost of approximately 2,5 billion euros. In this regard, the resumption, starting from 2022, of antibiotic consumption in our country is of concern, having increased by 6,4% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

However, scientific evidence shows that these infections are containable and for this reason it is necessary to activate effective prevention measures that range from environmental, staff and patient hygiene care to rigorous monitoring of infections.

The conference, which will take place at 9 am at the La Torre Hotel in Palermo, will be attended by, among others: Salvatore Iacolino, general manager of the Health Department; Salvatore Requirez, general manager of Dasoe; Antonio Colucci, director of the Quality and Clinical Risk Service Dasoe; Salvatore Ferrara, cassation lawyer member of the Observatory on Civil Justice; Silvio Brusaferro, University of Udine; Fabrizio Gemmi, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Observatory for Quality and Equity of Florence; the regional health councilor Giovanna Volo, the president of the Palermo Bar Association Dario Greco.