ISLIP, N.Y., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 5th, the World Health Organization launched a worldwide initiative called SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands (http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/en/index.html). More lives are lost to Hospital Acquired Infections than car accidents, breast cancer and HIV combined.

Grieving families across the United States will hold candlelight vigils Friday in memory of those who died of hospital infections, a patient advocate said.

By Bob Lamendola, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Nov. 11--The clamor over a few drug-resistant bacterial infections at South Florida schools has diverted attention from what health officials call a bigger bacterial threat: hospital infections that kill thousands each year.

Automated surveillance of hospital infections could increase patient protection from hospital infections, according to according to a survey of approximately 150 hospital-based infection control specialists released today by the Premier healthcare alliance.

Police were inspecting hospitals across Italy on Monday, after a magazine investigation into one of Rome's largest hospitals showed images of dog feces and garbage in the corridors, unguarded radioactive material, abandoned medical records and workers smoking next to patients.