NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS

CHISOR-WABALI E
 OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Definitions
 Epidemiology
 Nosocomial infections sites
 Microorganisms
 Reservoirs and transmission
 Introduction
 Nosocomial comes from the Greek word
nosokomeion (νοσοκομείον) meaning hospital
(nosos = disease, komeo = to take care of).
 Definition
 A localized or systemic condition that results from
adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious
agent(s) or its toxin which was not present or
incubating at the time of admission to the hospital
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
 A prevalence of 8.7% of hospital patients had
nosocomial
 At any time, over 1.4 million people worldwide suffer
from infectious complications acquired in hospital .
 The highest frequencies of nosocomial
infections were reported from hospitals in the
Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia
Regions
 Nosocomial Infection Sites
 The most frequent nosocomial infections are
infections of surgical wounds, urinary tract infections
and lower respiratory tract infections.
 Highest prevalence in intensive care units and in
acute surgical and orthopaedic wards. Infection rates
are higher among patients with increased
susceptibility because of old age, underlying disease,
or chemotherapy.
 Microrganisms
 Bacteria
 Commensals
 Pathogenic bacteria
 Viruses
 Parasites/Fungi
 Reservoirs & Transmission
 The permanent or transient flora of the
patient (endogenous infection)
 Flora from another patient or member of
staff (exogenous cross-infection).
 Flora from the health care environment
(endemic or epidemic exogenous
environmental infections)
Control of Nosocomial Infections
OUTLINE
 Aims

 Prevention

 Investigation of Epidemics

 Surveillance

 Antimicrobial Use
 AIMS
 Removal of source of infection
 Interrupting the chain of transmission
 Increasing the resistance of the patient
 PREVENTION
 Reducing person to person transmission
 Hand decontamination, personal hygiene, clothing,
masks, gloves, safe injection practices
 Preventing transmission from the environment
 Cleaning of hospital environment, use of
hot/superheated water; Disinfection of patient
equipment, Sterilization
 Prevention of common endemic nosocomial
infections
 UTI, SSI, Operating room environment/staff, pre-
intervention preparation of the patient, antimicrobial
prophylaxis, surgical wound surveillance, Nosocomial
respiratory infections
 Infection control precautions in patient care
 Prevention continued
 Environment:
 Buildings ( planning, segregation, traffic flow,
materials)
 Air (air-borne contamination/transmission,
ventilation, operating theatre, ultra clean air)
 Water (drinkable water, baths, pharmaceutical water,
microbiological monitoring)
 Food (agents of food poisoning/ food borne
infections, prevention of food poisoning)
 Waste ( Definition/classification, handling, storage,
transport
 CONCLUSION
 Role of Microbiologist, Physician, Surgeon ,
Pharmacist and other members of Hospital
Surveillance Committee
 An understanding of nosocomial infections,
their route of transmission and control are
essential steps in providing quality and safe
care in hospitalized patients.
Thanks for your attention !