Essay On Healthcare Acquired Infections

Healthcare acquired infections, or HAIs, are preventable infections that a patient obtains while receiving treatment for another infection or surgical condition. These types of infections can occur in a variety of clinical care settings such as acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis facilities, outpatient care, and long-term care facilities. HAIs can be caused by the use of medical devices such as catheters, central lines, or ventilators, and by surgical procedures. In fact, 1 out of every 25 hospitalized patients becomes affected by an HAI. (4) There are several types of pathogens capable of causing healthcare acquired infections. Gram-negative bacteria are known for causing infections in the bloodstream, pneumonia, wound infections, surgical site infections, and even meningitis. Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics which is what makes them so difficult to treat. …show more content…
Some factors that may increase a patient’s risk of infection include the patient’s susceptibility, environmental factors, and bacterial resistance. A patient’s age, immune status, and current treatments greatly influence these factors. Extremely young or older patients with a lower immunity are more susceptible to infection, as well as, patients that are already being treated with long-term, high doses of antibiotics. Environmental factors that can contribute to a higher risk of infections are crowded conditions where patients are in close contact with one another or overworked staff not following proper infection prevention techniques. Failing to clean high-traffic, common areas regularly can increase infection rates within a facility. Also, failing to clean patient rooms properly and thoroughly between patients, as well as, the equipment used to administer care are guaranteed ways to spread infections between patients.