Hospital acquired infection

Question 1

What are HAI?

Answer 1

Infections that occur during the time or stay in hospital/health care setting which was not present or incubating at the time of admission

Question 2

What can be the effects of HAI?

Answer 2

Prolonged hospital stay
Mortality 
Sepsis 
Disability 
Readmission
Antibiotic resistance

Question 3

What are the most common types of HAI?

Answer 3

Respiratory ( gram negative)
Skin/soft tissue infections ( gram positive) 
UTI
GI
Blood stream infections
Surgical site infections 
Infections related to prosthetic devices

Question 4

What are risk factors for HAI?

Answer 4

• Age
• Ventilation
• Haemodialysis
• Catheters
• Immunosupression
• Antibiotic usage
• Chronic disease
• Immobility + pressure sores
• Prolonged admission + intensive care

Question 5

What are the 2 main routes for pathogen entry and what type of pathogen tends to invade?

Answer 5

Respiratory + urinary routes = gram negative

Skin + soft tissue routes = gram positive

Question 6

What is infection?

Answer 6

Invasion of pathogens capable of producing disease in the body

Question 7

How do opportunistic pathogens of our micro biome cause disease?

Answer 7

• They can attach to surfaces e.g catheters
• Form a monolayer + matrix
• This develops to become a multi layered biofilm = mini eco system

Question 8

What does planktonic state mean?

Answer 8

There are opportunistic pathogens in our micro biome

They are unable to cause disease because they are in the wrong environment

Question 9

What are common gram positive pathogens?

Answer 9

Staphylococcus aureus - MRSA + MSSA ( different antimicrobial therapy)
Streptococcus
C dif

Question 10

What are common gram negative pathogens?

Answer 10

Pseudomonas
Klebsiella
E coli

Question 11

Which pathogen commonly leads to sepsis and which patients are most vulnerable?

Answer 11

Pseudomonas

Immunosupressed + ventilated

Question 12

How do we treat UTIS?

Answer 12

Narrow spectrum antibiotics

• 3 days normal
• 7 days with a catheter

Question 13

What are risk factors for pneumonia?

What commonly causes it?

Answer 13

Age, immunosupression, ventilation, reduced cough, immobility

• Gram negative bacteria rather than community acquired pneumonia
• Viruses : Covid + influenza

Question 14

Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?

Answer 14

• More potent antibiotbiotis have to be used which can have real and hepatic side effects