Introduction:
Nosocomial infection comes from Greek words “nosus” meaning disease and “komeion” meaning to take care of.
- Also called as hospital acquired infection.
- Infections are considered nosocomial if they first appear 48hrs or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge.
Factors:
- Crowded hospital conditions
- New microorganism
- Increasing number of people with compromised immune system
- Increasing Bacterial resistance
Epidemiology:
- Nosocomial infections can be exogenous (external organism) and endogenous (opportunist normal flora).
- Host susceptibility Is an important factor in the development of nosocomial infection.
- Medical equipment’s and procedures (surgery) are often responsible for infections.
Modes of transmission:
There are four main modes of transmission:
- Vector borne
- Air borne
- Droplet
- Common vehicle
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Rash
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cough
- Diarrhea
Common sites of infection:
Following are the most common nosocomial infections:
- Urinary tract
- Catheter associated infection
- Bacteremia
- Surgical Wounds
- Blood stream infections
Causative Agents:
Following are the causative agents of nosocomial infections:
- Virus
- Bacteria
- Fungi
Risk Factors:
- Prolonged hospital stays
- Being of older age
- Catheter insertion
- Recent or frequent antibiotic use
- Receiving healthcare in a developing country
- Having a compromised immune system
- Having other chronic illnesses
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Using tobacco
Prevention and control:
Prevention and control of nosocomial infections can be done by the following ways:
- Isolation
- Sterilization
- Use Gloves
- Wear Aprons
- Get educated
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