Nosocomial Infections In A Hospital Setting
Nosocomial Infections (NI) can arise from an inanimate object or substance, other patients, medical personnel, visitors, air, water, even the health care process itself. Also, the use of reusable equipment/supplies, invasive devices or techniques (catheters, valves, etc.). Patients in a hospital setting are also exposed to more drug resistant strains of microbes; as in this setting the microbes are selected at a higher rate than outside the hospital due to antibiotic usage in the hospital. NI usually involve the urinary tract, respiratory tract, surgical incision sites, and blood; again usually points of entry/exit from the human body.
Events, some listed above, in NI. Below are other events that may contribute to NIs.
Age (one
extreme or the other)
Genetic/Acquired immunodeficiency
Organ transplant (immunosuppression required)
Chemotherapy
Physical/Mental Stress
NI are opportunistic as they attack when a patients defenses are compromised, decreased, or when they are introduced into an area of the body they are not naturally located. Opportunistic infections are not pathogenic to a health intact person like a true pathogen.
5 types of isolation
1) Enteric isolation:
Action: Gown/Glove for direct patient contact. Precautions for fecal/urine disposal
Reason: Prevention of diarrheal disease.
Respiratory Precautions:
Action: Private room/closed door. no G/G. Mask Required. secretion contamination to be disinfected.
Reason: Prevent spread of respirator disease (TB, Meningitis, etc)
Drainage/Secretion Precautions:
Action: G/G, no mask, contaminated instruments/dressings require special precautions
Reason: Prevent staph/staph infection, gangrene, zoster, etc
Strict isolation:
Action: Private Room/Closed door. G/G/M. Contaminated items wrapped and decontaminated.
Reason: Containment of hight virulent/contagious microbes, TB some pneumonia, etc.
Reverse/Protective isolation:
Action: Same as Strict; but room may be HEFA filtered continuously as to remove airborne pathogens. No infected persons allowed.
Reason: Protection of extremely immunocompromised patients from opportunistic infections.
An infection control officer implements proper protective/procedural protocols in the hospital. They are also responsible for tracking of and identification of possible outbreaks, breaches in asepsis, and training of the other hospital workers in acceptable aseptic technique.
Events, some listed above, in NI. Below are other events that may contribute to NIs.
Age (one
extreme or the other)
Genetic/Acquired immunodeficiency
Organ transplant (immunosuppression required)
Chemotherapy
Physical/Mental Stress
NI are opportunistic as they attack when a patients defenses are compromised, decreased, or when they are introduced into an area of the body they are not naturally located. Opportunistic infections are not pathogenic to a health intact person like a true pathogen.
5 types of isolation
1) Enteric isolation:
Action: Gown/Glove for direct patient contact. Precautions for fecal/urine disposal
Reason: Prevention of diarrheal disease.
Respiratory Precautions:
Action: Private room/closed door. no G/G. Mask Required. secretion contamination to be disinfected.
Reason: Prevent spread of respirator disease (TB, Meningitis, etc)
Drainage/Secretion Precautions:
Action: G/G, no mask, contaminated instruments/dressings require special precautions
Reason: Prevent staph/staph infection, gangrene, zoster, etc
Strict isolation:
Action: Private Room/Closed door. G/G/M. Contaminated items wrapped and decontaminated.
Reason: Containment of hight virulent/contagious microbes, TB some pneumonia, etc.
Reverse/Protective isolation:
Action: Same as Strict; but room may be HEFA filtered continuously as to remove airborne pathogens. No infected persons allowed.
Reason: Protection of extremely immunocompromised patients from opportunistic infections.
An infection control officer implements proper protective/procedural protocols in the hospital. They are also responsible for tracking of and identification of possible outbreaks, breaches in asepsis, and training of the other hospital workers in acceptable aseptic technique.