HAI - Hospital Acquired Infections
Hospital-acquired infections also known as healthcare-associated
infections or nosocomial infections that are typically not present or
incubating at the time of admission. These are newly acquired infections
that are contracted within a hospital environment.
As medical care becoming more complex and antibiotic resistance is
increasing, the cases of HAIs are growing. The good news is that HAIs
can be prevented in a lot of healthcare situations.
Anyone admitted to a healthcare facility is at risk for contracting a HAI.
The most common type of HAI's are:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Surgical site infections
- Gastroenteritis
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
Anyone admitted to a healthcare facility is at risk for contracting a HAI.
Your risk also increases if you’re admitted to the ICU. The chance of
contracting a HAI in pediatric ICUs is 6.1 to 29.6 percent. A study has
found that nearly 11 percent of roughly 300 people who underwent operations
contracted a HAI. Contaminated areas can increase your risk for HAIs by
almost 10 percent.
HAIs are also more common in developing countries. Studies show that
five to 10 percent of hospitalizations in Europe and North America result
in HAIs. In areas such as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia,
it’s more than 40 percent.
Main Routes Of Transmission With Description
The most important and frequent mode of transmission of nosocomial infections is by direct contact.
Transmission occurs when droplets containing microbes from the infected person are propelled a short distance through the air and deposited on the patient'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.
Dissemination can be either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue {5 µm or smaller in size} of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms 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 environmental factors; therefore, special air-handling and ventilation are required to prevent airborne transmission. Microorganisms transmitted by airborne transmission include Legionella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the rubeola and varicella viruses.
This applies to microorganisms transmitted to the host by contaminated items, such as food, water, medications, devices, and equipment.
This occurs when vectors such as mosquitoes, flies, rats, and other vermin transmit microorganisms.