Infections caught in the hospital are referred to as Hospital-Acquired Infections. The other name for a Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI) is Nosocomial Infection. When a patient gets admitted to a hospital or other health care facility, after which they develop an infection, they are said to have a Nosocomial Infection. The infection should not have been present at the time of admittance to the hospital. This spectrum of infections includes those acquired in the hospital (but may even appear after discharge of patient), as well as occupational infections amongst the healthcare staff of the facility. One of the most common wards where nosocomial infections may occur is the intensive care unit (ICU) ward, where doctors do intensive treatment for serious diseases.
How do we establish the diagnosis of a nosocomial infection ?
To establish the diagnosis of a nosocomial infection, the infection must occur when someone was admitted for some reasons other than the infection:
- Up to 48 hours after the time of admission to the hospital
- Up to 3 days after discharge
- Up to 30 days after an operation
What are the types of nosocomial infection ?
The most common types of Hospital-Acquired Infections are as follows.
- Infections of surgical wounds
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Gastroenteritis
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
What are symptoms of nosocomial infection ?
The Symptoms of Hospital-Acquired Infections will vary by type. The symptoms for these infections may include ;
- discharge or pus in a wound
- fever, chills, malaise
- cough, sore throat, shortness of breathing
- burning with urination or difficulty urinating in case of UTIs
- headache, fatigue
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
What causes nosocomial infections ?
Many diverse bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites may cause nosocomial infections. Infections can be caused by a microorganism acquired from another person or the environment in the hospital (exogenous infection or cross-infection) or may be caused by the patient’s own microbial flora (endogenous infection). Prior to the practice of good hygiene and use of high quality antibiotics, most hospital infections that were caused were due to pathogens of external origin (such as food borne or airborne diseases or even tetanus). Most infections that are contracted in hospital these days are caused by microorganisms which are usually common even in the general population, but in whom they may cause no or milder disease as compared to hospital patients. The following mentioned are the organisms and the disease caused.
- Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) causes infection of blood.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) cause UTI.
- Enterococci cause infection of blood, wounds & UTIs.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) causes infection of respiratory system, kidney
and UTI.
Bacteria, fungi, and viral infection spread largely through person-to-person contact. This includes contact via hands, inadequate sterilization or use of medical instruments such as catheters, respiratory machines, and the wide array of hospital tools. The Hospital-Acquired Infections also increase with excessive or improper use of antibiotics. This can lead to development of highly resistant infection to multiple antibiotics.
Who is at risk for nosocomial infections ?
Anyone who is admitted to a hospital or healthcare facility is at risk for contracting a Hospital-
Acquired Infections. For some microorganisms, your risks may also be decided by ;
- With the infection your hospital roommate has.
- With age, especially if you’re older than 70 years of age.
- How long you’ve been on antibiotics
- Whether you are using hospital devices like urinary catheters or drips or are undergoing invasive techniques creating potential routes of infection
- A prolonged ICU stay
- If you’ve been in a coma
- If you have a compromised immune system
- With poor infection control practices, transmission may be increased.
How are nosocomial infections diagnosed ?
Many doctors can identify a Hospital-Acquired Infection by history and symptoms. Signs like a new inflammation and/or a rash at the site of infection count as a hospital-acquired infection. You may have to undergo blood and urine tests as to categorize the infection.
How are nosocomial infections treated ?
Treatments for a Hospital-Acquired Infection depend on the infection type. Your doctor will possibly advocate antibiotics and bed rest. Also, any foreign devices like catheters will be removed as soon as medically appropriate. Care will have to be taken to ensure a healthy diet, adequate fluid intake, and rest. The earlier this infection is detected, the faster the chances of recovery and cure. However, people who get Hospital-Acquired Infections usually have to spend a longer time in the hospital, to recover from the infection.
How can we prevent nosocomial infections ?
Hospital-Acquired Infections can be prevented in a lot of healthcare situations. Healthcare faculty directly contributes to the prevention of these infections. As a rule, hospitals and healthcare staff should follow the recommended guidelines for sterilization and disinfection. Some general measures for infection control include the following.
- The first and foremost measure should be to maintain hand hygiene, which involves washing hands prior to and after touching patients in the hospital.
- Wearing appropriate gear, such as gloves, gowns, and face protection masks.
- Cleaning all the surfaces properly, with recommended frequency.
- Making sure rooms are adequately and well ventilated.
- Screening the ICU to see if people with hospital infections need to be isolated.
- Realizing the type of isolation needed, which will protect others or reduce the chances of further infection.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
