Nosocomial Infection

• Nosocomail infection also known as hospital acquired infection (HAI).

• HAI is an infection that a patient acquired while receiving treatment in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

• These infection typically occur 48 hours or more often admission in hospital.

• Most common area in hospital where HAI occur is ICU.

• The spreading of nosocomail infection is a major public health concern due to their impact on patient illness and death rate.

• Common type of HAI include urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, pneumonia, and bloodstream infection.

CAUSE

• Nosocomail infection also called hospital acquired infection (HAI) arise through various factor such as:

1. Immune system: Patient with weak immune system due to Immuno-suppresive, HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc.

2. Chronic disease: Condition like chronic abstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, kidney disease.

3. Surgery, catheterization provide a pathway to pathogen enter into the body.

4. Improper sterilization: Improper sterilization of medical instrument and equipment can cause infection.

5. Common pathogen: Bacteria, virus, fungi.

Types of nosocomial infection

1. Urinary tract infection:

   • UTI is an infection in which any part of urinary system the kidney, bladder or urethra.

   • Common in women.

   • Pathogen: E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococcus species.

   • Symptoms: frequent urination, dysuria, abdominal pain, cloudy or dark urine.

2. Surgical site: infection:

   • SSI is an infection in the part of the body where a surgery took place.

   • SSI occur after surgery, improper wound care, long surgical procedure.

   • Pathogen: Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus species, enterococcus species.

   • Symptoms: Redness at surgical site, pain, fever, delayed healing of surgical wound.

3. Pneumonia :

   • Lung infection that occur 48 hours or more after hospital admission.

   • Cause after prolonged hospital stay.

   • Pathogen: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella, pneumonia.

   • Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, chills.

4. Blood stream infection:

   • Blood stream infection are infection of blood caused by blood born pathogens.

   • It occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream can from else where in the body such as the skin, lungs, kidney, and bladder.

   • Cause due central venous catheters prolonged catheter use improper catheter care.

   • Pathogen: Staphylococcus aureus, candida species.

   • symptoms: Tachypnea (rapid breathing), hypotension, organ dysfunction.

5. Gastrointestinal infection:

   • Gastrointestinal infection are infection are viral bacteria, or parasitic infection that gastroenteritis etc.

   • Gastrointestinal infection caused after ingestion contaminated food or water poor hygiene contact with infected individual.

   • Pathogen:

   • Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration.

6. Skin and soft tissue infection:

   • Skin and soft tissue infection (SST) are common type of nosocomail infection that affect the skin, underlying tissue muscles and sometimes even bone.

   • It cause different condition such as:

     • Cellulitis

     • Abscesses

     • Surgical site infection

     • Ulcer

   • Pathogen: Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus species.

   • Symptoms: Redness, pain, fever, formation of abscesses.

Common pathogens that cause nosocomail infection:

• Different types of pathogens associated with nosocomial infection include virus, bacteria, fungi and other microorganism.

• Most common pathogens are:

  • Staphylococcus aureus

  • Escherichia coli (E.coli)

  • Pseudomonas

  • Klebsillia

  • Acinetobacter

  • Influenza virus

  • Candida species

Treatment

• The treatment of nosocomial infections depends on the type of infection the causative pathogen and patient’s overall health.

• Effective treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial therapy, supportive care and surgical procedure.

Prevention:

• Regular hand hygiene

• Proper sterilization of medical equipment and surgical instrument

• Isolated patient by which infection not spread.

• Regular cleaning and disinfection of hospital.