11.1: Hospital acquired infections Flashcards
Define a hospital acquired infection
Infection occurring in a patient during process of care in a health care facility which wasn’t present/incubating at the time of admission
Name three other terms used for hospital acquired infections
Nosocomial, iatrogenic, health care associated infections (HCAI)
What is the most common mode of acquisition for HCAIs?
Endogenous/self-infection (50%): the infectious agent is present at the time of admission but signs of infection occur during stay in the hospital
Define an exogenous acquisition of HCAIs, what sources can they be from?
Patient contracts new infective agents in the hospital and develops symptoms of infection (i.e another patient, hospital worker 35%, instruments 10%, air 5%)
Why is it important to differentiate between sources of HCAI?
To understand the epidemiology and for prevention
Define direct and indirect contact spread
Direct: person to person (i.e touching, contact with oral secretions or body lesions)
Indirect: via contaminated hands or equipment
Name five common HCAIs from most-least common
- Respiratory infections: Pneumonia (i/e Ventilator associated (VAP)) and hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP)
- UTIs
- surgical site infections (SSIs)
- GI infections
- Bloodstream infections (BSI)
What are the three most common bacteria pathogens causing HCAIs and two on the rise?
What are prevalent HCAI conditions that can be caused by viruses?
Coagulase negative staphylococci, Staph aureus, enterococci
Although with the rise of broad spectrum antibiotics incidents of infections caused by MRSA and ESBLs have increased
Flu, norovirus
What are (ESBLs) extended spectrum beta lactamase producers?
Resistant to beta lactames (a class of antibiotics)
What is the impact of HCAIs?
- Patient safety (i.e long-term disability)
- Can take antibiotic resistant bugs out of hospital
- Ward closures and bed blockages - health service disruption
- High mortality especially in frail and elderly
- Economic impact - 1 million NHS/year
How do you differentiate between hospital and community acquired pneumonia, and why is it important to make the differentiation? How does an HAP present and how are they diagnosed?
If the infection presents >48 hours of being admitted it is hospital acquired, but if it presents <48 hours it is community acquired.
Important to differentiate as there are different pathogens associated with each that will affect treatment/antibiotic choices
How is HAP diagnosed and what signs might be seen? What is important to know when managing a patient with an HAP?
Diagnosed primarily by blood culture, symptoms and infiltrations on CXR may be observed
In HAP: want to know their previous antibiotic history so you can start treating them
What determines treatment for HAPs?
Depends on the organism involved but if unknown cover the two most common HAP bugs; Pseudomonas, staph. aureus
Which type of pneumonia is pseudomonas most associated?
VAP
Who is most commonly affected by UTIs in hospital? How can they be prevented?
Elderly, they are most commonly caused by indwelling urethral catheters - so catheters should not be given unless absolutely necessary
What is the risk of CA UTIs? (Catheter associated UTIs)
Patient discomfort and safety, sepsis if progresses to a blood stream infection, increased hospital stay
Name two bugs that commonly cause UTIs, resp infections, wounds and skin sepsis and GI infections
UTIs: Klebsiella, E.coli
Resp infections: hemophilis influenza and staph aureus (and staph pneumonia)
Wounds and skin sepsis: staph. Aureus and E.coli
GI infections: salmonella, C. Difficile
What are the complications of SSIs? What has helped contribute to the significant reduction in rates of SSIs in hospitals?
Can double the length of post-operative stay - significant increases the cost of care. SSI surveillance systems in the UK have significantly reduced rates of SSIs
Name three major actions in place to help control HCAIs?
- Care quality commission (CQC): overviews safe care and treatment. Assesses every NHS hospitals and focuses on improving staff education and accountability, every health care provider has to comply to these regulations
- Public health England (PHE) runs a national surveillance programme and monitors trends
- Patients and cares should report and control HCAI
Describe how evidence based interventions combat HCAIs
They relate to key clinical procedures or care processes that can reduce the risk of infection if performed appropriately, i.e; catheters, care bundles for every type of line care
Highlights the critical elements of the care process and the key actions needed to prove reliability