Hospital Acquired infection –(Nosocomial infection )

 

   Hospital Acquired infection –(Nosocomial infection ):

       Hospital –acquired infection : An infection caught while hospitalized the medical term for a hospital acquired infection is nosocomial most nosocomial infections are due to bacteria.

·         Since antibiotics are frequently used within hospitals, the types of bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics is different than bacteria outside of the hospital.

·         Nosocomial infection can be serious and difficult to treat.

·         A nosocomial infection is strictly and specifically an infection “ not present or incubating prior  to admittance to the hospital, but generally occurring 48 hours after admittance”

·         The word “ Nosocomial “ is made up of two Greek words. The prefix “ noso”-come from “nosus” meaning disease and “-comial” come from “komelon” meaning to take care of. Nosocomial could therefore refer to any affliction acquired by a patient while under medical supervision, but it doen’t it now refers more narrowly to a hospital –acquired infection.

 

Types of Nosocomial infection :

a.      Iatrogenic

b.      Exogenous

c.       Endogenous infection

 

a.      Iatrogenic :   It is a type of nosocomial infection that results from diagnostic or therapeutic procedure E.g. UTI may result due to cauterization.

b.      Endogenous : It arises from micro organism external to the individual, which do not exit as a normal  flora  E.g : clostridium tetani.

 

c.       Endogenous Infection :  It can occur when past of the client’s flora becomes alter and an overgrowth result E.g. (Infection due to yeast etc.,).

 

Causes of Nosocomial Infections:  

Causes:

·         Nosocomial infection are commonly transmitted when health care provider become complacent and do not practice correct hygiene regularly.

·         Also, increased use of outpatient treatment in recent decades means that a greater percentage of people who are hospitalized today ar likely to b seriously ill with more weakened immune systems than in the past.

·         Moreover, some medical procedures bypass the body’s natural protective barriers.

·         Since medical staff move from patient to patient ,the staff themselves serve as a means for spreading pathogens.

·         Essentially, the staff act as vector.

 

Transmission of Nosocomial Infection

·         The drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, for the most part, threaten only hospitalized patients whose immune systems are weak.

·         They can survive for a long time on surfaces in the hospital and enter the body through wounds, catheters, and ventilators.

                            Main Route of Transmission

Route	Description
Contact Transmission	The most important and frequent mode of transmission of nosocomial infections is by direct contract.
Droplet Transmission	Transmission  occurs when droplets containing  microbes from the infected person are propelled a short distance through the air and deposited on the host’s body ;droplets are generated from the source person mainly by coughing , sneezing , and talking, and   during the performance of certain  procedures, such as bronchoscopy.
Airborne Transmission	Dissemination can be either airborne droplet nuclei(small particle residue (5um or smaller in size )of evaporated droplets containing micro-organism that remain suspended in air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Micro-organism carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and may become inhaled by a susceptible host within the same  room or over a longer distance from the source patient , depending on environment factors; therefor, special air-handling  and ventilation are required to prevent airborne transmission. Micro-organisms transmitted by airborne transmission .micro-organisms transmitted by airborne transmission include legionella, mycobacterium Tuberculosis and the rubeola  and varicella viruses.

 

Prevention and control of Nosocomial Infection :

·         Meticulous use of medical and surgical asepsis is necessary to prevent transport of potentially infectious micro-organisms.

·         Many nosocomial infection can be prevented using proper.

-Hand hygiene techniques.

-Environmental controls 

-sterile technique

-Identification and management of clients at risk for infections.

·         Hospital should be well ventilated.

·         Safe food and water supply

·         Safe disposal of excreta

·         Safe disposal of refuse

·         Destruction of rodents and insects.