Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Definition
An infection acquired in hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than infection. An infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. This includes infections acquired in a hospital but appearing after discharge
Significance
Leading Cause of Death
Economic Costs Increased length of stay Loss of livelihood Increased use of drugs
Drug Resistance
A Study in US in 1995 revealed that : Rate of hospital acquired infection: 1 in every 10 admitted patients. Resulted in 88,000 deaths. Annual cost: 4.5 billion to 11 billion$. Deaths because of HAI: 5%. Over last 25 years Nosocomial Infection rates have remained stable at 5-6 HAI per 100 admissions (CDC). However, in terms of infections per 1000 patient days it has increased by 36% from 7.2 in 1975 to 9.8 in 1995.
Global Scenario
Major cause of death and increased morbidity. A prevalence study by WHO in 55 hospitals in 14 countries across globe representing 4 regions showed that : Average rate of HAI 8.7% At any given point of time 1.4 million people world wide suffer from infections complication acquired in hospital
Highest rate of HAI in ICU, acute surgical ward and orthopedic wards. Rates highest among susceptible patients i.e. old age with underlying disease, chemotherapy.
Studies in India
Hospital Infection Rates: 2-15% Contributory mortality rate: 3%
Commission Set-up by British Parliament in 1996 to review Nosocomial Infection reported: Nosocomial Infection cannot be eradicated. 30% could be avoided by better application of existing knowledge and realistic operation control practices. 50 -70% of surgical would infection occur post discharge (UK) but only a quarter of infection control team doing post discharge surveillance. No written policies for use of catheters hand washing. Nosocomial Infection National Surveillance Scheme developed in 1996. National Programme on Hospital Infection Control may be initiated.
Sources of HAI
Endogenous:
These would be from the patient himself.
Exogenous:
Other patients Hospital staff Environment I/V medicines Blood Air Apparatus
9. Transplantation
2. Poor hygiene
Hospital Infections
8. malignancy
3. Crowding of Patients
7. Burns
5. Extreme of age
6. Implanted Prostheses
Patient susceptibility Age Immune status Underlying disease Diagnostic and therapeutic intervention
Wash bowls
Air
Food
Ventilators
The spread of infection within the hospital requires three essential elements:
A source of infecting organisms. A means of transmission of the organism A susceptible host
Strategies
Risk Stratification:
All patients are not at equal risk. We should assess risk of HAI and accordingly practice patient care practices. Aseptic measure should be appropriate to the level of risk.
2. Medium
3. High
Severely immuno-compromised Surgery or patients, (<500 WBC per ml); High risk procedures (e.g. central venous multiple trauma, severe burns, organ catheter, endotracheal intubation transplant
2. Medium
Asepsis
Protection against blood and biological fluids, as appropriate Surgical clothes: dress, mask, caps, sterile gloves
3. High
Surgical asepsis
Level of Cleaning
Zone A : Domestic cleaning Zone B : No dry mopping/vacuum Wet mopping Disinfect before mopping Use detergent Zone C : Ideally separate equipment for each room Use detergent/disinfectant solution Zone D : Ideally separate equipment for each room Use detergent/disinfectant solution All horizontal surface and toilets to be cleaned daily in zone B, C and D.
Disinfection of Patient Equipment Remove micro-organisms without complete sterilization to prevent transmission of organism
Surveillance of HAI
Reducing infection rates in the hospital Establishing endemic baseline rates Identifying & containing outbreaks Evaluating & monitoring all infection control measures Monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility patterns Dept of Microbiology carries out surveillance of HAI with the help of infection control team.
Appropriate use of prophylactic antimicrobials nutrition and vaccination Limiting endogenous infection by
Minimising invasive procedure Appropriate use of antibiotics
Surveillance Prevention of infection in staff Enhancing staff patient care practices and continuing staff education.
Disinfection
Critical Items
Sterilization
Semi-critical Items
High level disinfection Intermediate level disinfections
Non-critical Items
Low level disinfection
Universal Precautions
Blood and fluids visibly contaminated with blood. Also semen and vaginal secretions, tissues and body fluids
Success Factors
Leadership Co-ordination Partnerships Communication Consistency of information Sharing