SA lacks a national database to track hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), leaving a critical gap in patient safety and infection control. – Times Live (14 January 2026)
This results in preventable infections and deaths going unnoticed, particularly among vulnerable groups such as newborns and mothers.
According to Professor Angela Dramowski, head of the general paediatrics unit at Stellenbosch University, 70% of pre-term babies who died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital had laboratory-confirmed infections.
Experts argue that transparent reporting could be transformative as sharing infection data helps identify problem areas. Hospital management is more likely to act if infection and antibiotic-resistance data are openly shared. This would enable the directing of resources, staff and equipment to where they are most needed.