A study published in The Lancet medical journal in 2022 assessed data from existing sources regarding antibiotic resistance in the EU. According to the study, an estimate of 1.27 million people died in 2019 from infections that could have been survivable – if the bacteria had been sensitive to antibiotics(1).
This problem is expected to worsen in the coming future!
According to a forecast taken from the 2019 report of the WHO-led expert group on antimicrobial resistance (IACG), we risk 10 million deaths a year worldwide by 2050, from infections involving resistant bacteria(2,3).
As a catheter producer with solid clinical evidence, we know that catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections and account for 70–80% of all UTIs. According to the Global Burden of Disease report, it is estimated that in 2019, there were 404.61 million cases and 236,790 deaths globally caused by UTIs. Notably, the number of deaths increased 2.4 times from 1990 to 2019 due to UTIs(4).
Additionally, studies show that CAUTI pathogens are more resistant to antibiotics compared to non-CAUTI pathogens. Despite advancements in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, CAUTIs continue to be a significant healthcare burden, with alarmingly high antibiotic resistance rates.
This resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and poor patient outcomes. Treating resistant bacterial infections is estimated to cost US $412 billion annually, and productivity losses due to anti-microbial resistance could account for $443 billion per year(5,6). These issues cannot afford to wait any longer as they lead to a huge economic burden on society. In addition to this, it’s estimated that very soon there will be limited treatment for UTIs.
Wellspect offers a diverse range of products designed to meet various needs, with a catheter coating that stays smooth during booth insertion and withdrawal, reducing risk of CAUTIs. Our innovative catheters and continence care solutions cater to individuals with different medical conditions and lifestyles.
These products are engineered with a hydrophilic, urotonic surface, no-touch technique to ensure ease of use, comfort, and safety. For instance, Wellspect's LoFric may lower the risk of UTIs due to the wide product range, which includes options like the LoFric Origo Sleeve – a user-friendly intermittent catheter with a protective sleeve that covers the catheter during insertion and removal, to help ensure that it remains untouched throughout the process and thus lower the risk of UTIs and their associated economic burden.