Based on data collected in the Evaluation of Cost of Nosocomial Infections (ECONI) study. In this prospective observational incidence study in two hospitals in Scotland the excess length of stay attributable to healthcare-associated infections (HAI) is on average 7.8 days. Pneumonia (16 days) had the greatest impact, followed by bloodstream infections (11 days) and SSI (10 days). 58 000 bed days are occupied per year due to HAI. A reduction of HAI incidence by 10% would allow to treat 1706 additional patients per year.