Hospital-Acquired Infections
Ashley Bell, Ashley Jones, Penny Ruiz, Robin Pasco, Tameka White
Introduction to Hospital-Acquired Infections:
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as healthcare-acquired or nosocomial infections are infections acquired or obtained when receiving treatment or visiting a medical facility of any kind. Hospitals, clinics, and care homes host a vast variety of bacterium, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens can survive on almost any surface such as tables, chairs, beds, and especially clothes. When healthcare workers, patients, and visitors have exposure to contaminate surfaces (i.e. touching a doorknob), they will carry the pathogen on their person, almost certainly spreading the pathogen to another surface or individual. …show more content…
Because they are in close proximity to other sick patients (often times with more severe illnesses) this leads to over 2 million healthcare-associated infections each year. 5% to 10% of patients are affected by this with an average of 8.7% patients. According to a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs cause approximately 90,000 deaths each year.
Why this is a Public Issue
This is a public issue. Every person will at some point in their lives be treated or spend any length of time within a healthcare facility, thus increasing their risks of contracting an illness completely irrelevant to their initial condition. Sick persons are, once again, more prone to having their conditions exacerbated by contracting another illness in addition to their current states. One major issue that needs further examination is that over 70% of these infectious pathogens (bacterium) are resistant to at least one or more drugs used for treatments, such as penicillin.
Introduction to Most Common Infectious
Ashley Bell, Ashley Jones, Penny Ruiz, Robin Pasco, Tameka White
Introduction to Hospital-Acquired Infections:
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as healthcare-acquired or nosocomial infections are infections acquired or obtained when receiving treatment or visiting a medical facility of any kind. Hospitals, clinics, and care homes host a vast variety of bacterium, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens can survive on almost any surface such as tables, chairs, beds, and especially clothes. When healthcare workers, patients, and visitors have exposure to contaminate surfaces (i.e. touching a doorknob), they will carry the pathogen on their person, almost certainly spreading the pathogen to another surface or individual. …show more content…
Because they are in close proximity to other sick patients (often times with more severe illnesses) this leads to over 2 million healthcare-associated infections each year. 5% to 10% of patients are affected by this with an average of 8.7% patients. According to a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs cause approximately 90,000 deaths each year.
Why this is a Public Issue
This is a public issue. Every person will at some point in their lives be treated or spend any length of time within a healthcare facility, thus increasing their risks of contracting an illness completely irrelevant to their initial condition. Sick persons are, once again, more prone to having their conditions exacerbated by contracting another illness in addition to their current states. One major issue that needs further examination is that over 70% of these infectious pathogens (bacterium) are resistant to at least one or more drugs used for treatments, such as penicillin.
Introduction to Most Common Infectious