Nosocomial Infection/ Health care Associated Infection
Hospital acquired or nosocomial infections are defined as infection developing in patients after admission to the hospital, which were neither present nor in incubation at the time of hospitalization.
Causes of Hospital Acquired Infection
- Low immunity in highly susceptible to infection
- Hospital environment; variety of pathogens through patient
- Pathogen present in antiseptic lotion and ointments
- Contaminated hospital water
- Lapse in asepsis during diagnostic procedure
- Contamination of hospital food
- Sophisticated Medical technique enhance risk of infection.
- Use of indwelling catheter
- More infectious agent resistance due to overuse of antibiotics
- Pathogen present in air dust and use contaminated equipment
Sources of Nosocomial Infections
- People
- Objects
- Food
- Air
- Water
Common types of hospital Acquired Infection
- Wound infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Respiratory infection
- Neonatal infection
- Bacteremia and septicemia
- Other Nosocomial infection; skin and soft tissue infection
Modes of Transmission of Hospital Acquired infection
Type of HAIs Infection;
- Endogenous or self Infection
- Exogenous or cross infection and infection from environment
There are main modes of transmission;
- Contact; direct and indirect mode
- Vector borne
- Endogenous; urinary tract infection caused by E.coli
- Air borne
- Droplet infection
- Common vehicle
- Nosocomial Infections
- Immunocompromised patient
Mode of transmission
Air
Direct and indirect contact
Droplet; sneezing, coughing, talking
Endogenous
Common source
Vectors
Infected Reservoir
Infected individual
Colonized infected Individual
Skin at insertion site of vascular catheter
Periurethral skin and mucous membrane
Liquid substance in environment infected Individual
Skin puncture
Infectious material
Hospital staff
Inadequate Sterilizerld equipment
Source of infection
Air borne particle
Hand containing secretion from infected wound
Hand and fomites
Large respiratory droplets
Intravascular catheters
Urinary catheters
Contaminated IV fluids, donors contaminated blood products
Contaminated food, water
Flies, ant
Factors inducing Hospital acquired Infection
Age
Susceptibility
Infected patient
Drug resistance
Surgical and diagnostic procedure
Hospital environment
Route of Transmission of HAIs
- Contact route
Hands, dressing, fomites, comb
- Air borne route
Droplet
Dust
Aerosols
Respiratory tack pathogen
- Oral route
Prepared unhygienic food in hospital
- Body fluids
Saliva
Semen
Vaginal secretion
- Parenteral routes
Accidentally injury from sharp instruments, needle stick injury
Contaminated infusion fluid
Transmission of infection by blood transfusion.
For example; HIV, Hepatitis B
Contaminated blood products
Prevention of HAIs
- Identify source of infection
- Use aseptic technique
- Monitor hospital environment
- Infection control practinor keeping records
- Isolated infectious patient
- Disinfection of infected material
- Care provided the insertion site
- Wear PPE; prevent from respiratory secretion
- Handwashing
- Maintenance and surveillance and controlling over hospital acquired Infection
8.: Guidelines for Sterilization and disinfectant practices
- Infection control programme
