Healthcare-Associated Infections ✅ Flashcards
What are healthcare associated infections?
Infections occurring >48 hours after hospital admission
Why is there an increased risk of infection in a healthcare setting?
- Close proximity of patients with trasnmissible infections
- Co-morbidities in hospitalised patients
- Surgery and other intetrventions
- Antibiotics
Give an example of an intervention that can increase the risk of infection?
Central line insertion
What are the most common types of healthcare associated infections?
- Gastroenteritis
- Urinary tract infections
- Pneumonia
- Surgical sit infections
What are the most common causative organisms of healthcare associated gastroenteritis?
- Rotavirus
- Norovirus
- C. difficult
What are the most common causative organisms of healthcare associated pneumonia?
Respiratory viruses
What proportion of bloodstream infections occurring in children are healthcare associated?
1/3
Where can HCAIs be acquired from?
- Other hospital patients
- Healthcare workers
- The environment
What does the incidence of HCAI depend on?
Patient population
Who is the incidence of healthcare associated infections highest in?
- Intensive care, especially NICU
- Transplant recipients
- Burns patients
What is meant by an endogenous HCAI?
Caused by a patients own flora
What is meant by an exogenous HCAI?
Caused by organisms acquired from the healthcare setting
How can the transmission of HCAI be reduced?
Effective infection control measures
Give 5 infection control measures that can reduce HCAI
- Hand hygiene
- Appropriate isolation of patients
- Good antimicrobial stewardship
- Careful use of indwelling medical devices
- High quality surveillance
