Flu Hospitalizations Surge: What It Means for Infection Prevention
This year’s flu season is proving to be one of the most challenging in over a decade. Hospitals across the United States are managing a growing wave of viral infections from influenza to measles placing new pressure on emergency departments and infection prevention programs.
Recent findings from Epic Research reveal that hospitalizations and complications from influenza have reached their highest rates in more than 12 years, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced disinfection and infection-control measures in healthcare environments.
Flu Hospitalizations and ED Visits Reach Record Levels
The 2024–2025 flu season has seen hospitalization rates rise to 7.0% among patients diagnosed with influenza—up from 5.6% in 2023/2024 and 4.9% in 2022/2023. Additionally, 35% of patients with confirmed influenza visited the emergency department within 30 days of their infection, marking the most severe flu-related acute care demand observed since 2012.
Researchers attribute these spikes to a combination of factors: shifting viral circulation patterns, declining population immunity, and residual behavioral changes following the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is a greater strain on acute care facilities and an increased risk of environmental contamination in high-traffic hospital zones.
A Broader Pattern: Infections on the Rise Nationwide
The flu surge follows another concerning trend infectious disease activity across U.S. hospitals is climbing. As highlighted in our recent blog post on the measles outbreak 40 states have reported measles cases this year, with several outbreaks originating in healthcare settings.
Together, these data points paint a clear picture: hospitals are confronting a multi-front challenge. In an era of increased patient movement, staff shortages, and complex care environments, traditional manual cleaning alone is no longer sufficient to reduce cross-contamination risks.Why Environmental Disinfection Matters More Than Ever
Environmental surfaces remain a key vector for infection transmission. During surges in viral illness, emergency rooms, exam areas, and patient transport spaces can quickly become reservoirs for pathogens. For hospital leaders and EVS directors, maintaining rigorous, documented, and efficient disinfection practices is critical to sustaining patient safety and operational continuity.
Automated whole-room disinfection technologies such as Breezy Blue provide a vital supplement to manual cleaning protocols. Using aerosolized hydrogen peroxide (aHP), Breezy Blue delivers a consistent, thorough, and verifiable disinfection process across patient rooms and shared care areas.
Data-Driven Prevention with Breezy Med
Through integration with Breezy Cloud, hospitals can monitor, record, and validate every disinfection cycle in real time. This data-driven approach empowers infection prevention teams to ensure compliance, optimize cleaning workflows, and maintain audit-ready records of environmental disinfection activity.
As infection rates climb, hospitals must act decisively. Investing in automated, verifiable disinfection solutions strengthens both patient safety and staff confidence helping facilities stay prepared for whatever the next season brings.
To learn more about how Breezy Blue works and how to protect your space, contact us at breezymed.com/contact-us to schedule a demo or learn more.
