There are certain infections you may contract when you are in a particular place such as in a hospital environment. Such infections are known as Hospital-Acquired or Hospital-Associated Infections (HAIs) or Nosocomial Infections. These infections are mostly bacterial and can spread in various ways. To know more about it, the ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to Dr. Sanjay Jain, MBBS and MD (Medicine), working with Apple Hospital, Indore, and here is what he explains.
Some Common HAIs
According to our expert, some of the common infections are:
- Tuberculosis
- Urinary tract infections (especially in women)
- Pneumonia
- Chest infection
- Throat infection
- Tetanus (common OT acquired infection)
- Gastroenteritis
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, “Modern healthcare employs many types of invasive devices and procedures to treat patients and to help them recover. Infections can be associated with the devices used in medical procedures, such as catheters or ventilators.
These healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) include central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Infections may also occur at surgery sites, known as surgical site infections.”
Ways In Which The Infection Can Be Caused
Being in the hospital environment, there are many ways in which infections can spread, says Dr. Sanjay, including:
- Bacteria spreading due to coughing of a patient suffering from open tuberculosis
- Puss in any part of the body contaminating the linen
- Hospital staff touching an infected patient and then another one without sterilizing or disinfecting their hands
- Infectious bacteria found on the hospital floor
Who Is At Risk?
People who are more vulnerable and likely to contract the infections easily are:
- People who are very ill
- People who are Immunocompromised, like those suffering from cancer
- Those who have undergone major surgery
- People who have had a trauma or shock
- Those who are undergoing coronary bypass or any other heart surgery
- People who are required to stay in the ICU for a long time
- Elderly people, especially those above the age of 60 and suffering from comorbid diseases like diabetes
How Can It Be Prevented?
Dr. Sanjay explains that care should be taken on both ends, i.e. but both doctor and the patients
- Linen, bed covers, and blanket covers should be changed every day for every patient
- Hospital staff should mandatorily use mask and gloves and they should be disposed of properly before attending the next patient
- The minimum entry of outsiders in the ward or ICU
- Proper spacing between the beds
- Proper ventilation in the rooms
- Regular cleaning and sterilization of the floors, surfaces, and rooms
- Proper disposal of medical waste
- The patient must maintain proper hand hygiene, especially before eating food
- If he/she is consuming outside food instead of hospital-provided food, they must ensure that it is properly cooked and fruits must be washed and consumed
Dr. Sanjay says that the bacteria causing HAIs are very virulent and are sometimes even resistant to the commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, their treatment may require a higher dose of antibiotics. The symptoms may vary according to the part of the body which has been affected by the bacteria and the treatment is carried out accordingly.
He also informs that in good and well-known hospitals, a culture test is conducted on floors of the ward, ICU, OT, etc. using a swab, to know about the bacteria present in the hospital that may cause infections. However, the hospital areas are sterilized later.
