Question

Examine the major healthcare organizations impacted by healthcare associated infections. How are they currently acting and reacting to the issue?

Answer 1

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care, developed in a hospital or other health care facility that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care.

Hospital-acquired infections are caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens; the most common types are bloodstream infection (BSI), pneumonia (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP]), urinary tract infection (UTI), and surgical site infection (SSI).

Risk factors for HAIs

These include, for example, patient characteristics, such as, age or underlying diseases or conditions that may compromise the immune system; the presence of indwelling or invasive medical devices, such as catheters or breathing tubes; complications from surgical procedures; and antibiotic use.

How can healthcare-associated infections be reduced?

Infection control practices to reduce HAI include the use of protective barriers (e.g., gloves, gowns, face mask, protective eyewear, face shield) to reduce occupational transmission of organisms from the patient to the health care worker and from the health care worker to the patient.

The five basic principles for Hospital-acquired infection control

These include standard precautions (hand hygiene, PPE, injection safety, environmental cleaning, and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette) and transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, and airborne).

• Standard infection control principles, including hospital environmental hygiene, hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, and use and disposal of sharps;
• Preventing infections associated with the use of short-term indwelling urethral catheters;
• Preventing infections associated with the use of central venous access devices.

10 Steps to Preventing Spread of Infection in Hospitals

1. Create an Infection-Control Policy.
2. Identify Contagions ASAP.
3. Provide Infection Control Education.
4. Use Gloves.
5. Provide Isolation-Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
6. Disinfect and Keep Surfaces Clean.
7. Prevent Patients From Walking Barefoot.
8. Change Linens When Daily and When Dirty

9. Change Linens When Daily and When Dirty.

10. Make Sure Foods Are Kept at Proper Temperatures.