A hospital-acquired infection is an infection that a patient acquires
during their hospital stay, where the infection commences 48-hours after
admission. This is an increasing problem in many hospitals.
Infections commonly involve respiratory and urinary tracts, intravascular
cannulas and post-surgical wounds.
Common hospital pathogens include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, multi-resistant gram-negative bacilli and, occasionally vancomycin-resistant
enterococci and staphylococcus.
Effective infection control and prevention of hospital-acquired infections
requires active surveillance and targeted interventions.
Strategies
to prevent both development of antibiotic resistance and spread
of resistant organisms are necessary. This includes:
- effective Hand Hygiene
- prudent antimicrobial use
- aseptic technique
- short hospital stays
- minimal use and early removal of invasive devices
|
|
Infected stage four pressure ulcer
|
|
