For many years, health care departments in the Jönköping County Region have been observing hygiene observers, employees who are appointed to regularly conduct random hygiene observations of their colleagues.

"They look at both the rules of clothing and hand hygiene, and I believe that it is a success factor in maintaining awareness of how important these rules are," says Malin Bengnér, infection control physician in the Jönköping County Region in a press release.

60000 are affected each year

Each year, around 60,000 patients in Sweden suffer from a health-related infection, such as urinary tract infection, post-operative wound infection or pneumonia. Between 2013 and 2018, these have decreased. In Sweden, 4.4 percent of patients were affected in 2018. In Jönköping, the corresponding figure was three percent. It shows a review of records made by Sweden's Municipalities and Regions, SKR.

- It is very funny that it is decreasing in Sweden and it is very gratifying that we are among the best regions, says Malin Bengnér.

A health-related infection extends hospital care time from an average of 6.2 days to an average of 16.3 days and causes both great suffering and financial costs.