Hospital Infections Surge Amid Staff Shortages and Hygiene Lapses
Alarming new data reveals a dramatic surge in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) across Gauteng’s public health facilities last year, exposing deep-rooted systemic failures in infection control and patient care.
According to Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko’s recent disclosure to the legislature, 7,743 patients contracted infections during their hospital stays in 2024 a staggering increase from 2,034 cases the previous year. This more than threefold jump signals an escalating public health crisis with dire consequences for patients and the overstretched healthcare system.
At the epicentre of this crisis is Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, where one in every ten patients (1,473 out of 12,940) suffered infections they did not have upon admission. Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital recorded 1,796 infections from nearly 32,000 admissions. Other facilities such as Tembisa, Kalafong, Edenvale, and Leratong hospitals also reported troubling infection rates, underscoring the widespread nature of the problem.
Medical experts and frontline healthcare workers paint a grim picture of conditions in these hospitals. Dr Angelique Coetzee, spokesperson for the Unity Forum of Family Practitioners, attributes the rise to chronic overcrowding, severe staff shortages, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent infection prevention measures. “Public hospitals are stretched beyond capacity, creating a fertile ground for infections to thrive. Intensive care and high-care units, where invasive procedures are routine, are particularly vulnerable,” she said.
The South African Medical Association (Sama) corroborates these concerns. Spokesperson Vezi Silwanyana described how basic hygiene practices are undermined by a lack of essential infection prevention and control (IPC) supplies. “Doctors and nurses frequently work in wards where cleaning is irregular due to insufficient cleaning staff. Monitoring protocols such as surface swabbing and waste segregation are often neglected, increasing the risk of cross-contamination,” Silwanyana said.
Silwanyana warned that these infections include antibiotic-resistant strains, which are notoriously difficult to treat and threaten patient survival. Post-operative wards are especially at risk, where delayed detection of infections driven by personnel shortages and poor patient monitoring can trigger outbreaks among highly vulnerable groups, including newborns.
In response, the Gauteng health department cites staff shortages, overcrowding, broken or absent hand hygiene stations, and shortages of cleaning essentials like soap and disposable towels as root causes. Frequent stock-outs of clean linen force patients to reuse bedding and clothing for extended periods, heightening infection risks, particularly for surgical patients.
DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom expressed grave concern about the preventability of many infections. “Basic improvements in cleaning practices and ensuring adequate linen supplies could drastically reduce these infections,” he stated, urging urgent intervention to stem the tide of preventable patient harm.
This surge in HAIs not only prolongs patient suffering and hospital stays but also imposes an additional burden on a public health system already operating at the brink. Without immediate and comprehensive action, Gauteng’s hospitals risk becoming breeding grounds for life-threatening infections, undermining the very care they are meant to provide.
Hospitals and Infection Counts:
•Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital: 1,473 infections / 12,940 admissions
•Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital: 1,796 infections / 31,950 admissions
•Tembisa Hospital: 596 infections / 13,116 admissions
•Kalafong Hospital: 554 infections / 8,952 admissions
•Edenvale Hospital: 407 infections / 5,166 admissions
•Leratong Hospital: 365 infections / 1,026 admissions
The escalating crisis calls for swift action from Gauteng’s health authorities to overhaul infection control protocols, improve hospital hygiene, and urgently address staffing and supply shortages before more lives are lost to preventable infections.
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