Nosocomial infections:(HAIs)
Infections that are acquired while a patient is in hospital. One of the most common wards where HAIs occur is the ***, where doctors treat serious disease
More than 10% of patients admitted to the surgical wards of large hospitals develop a clinically significant infection.
The commonest organisms:
- Staphylococcus aureus and
- a range of Gram-negative bacilli.
*Multiple antibiotic resistance is a particular problem. *
Cross-infection can occur by many routes, but of particular concern are those caused by the inappropriate activity of the attending medical staff.
The main problems are:
- Failure to wash hands between attending patients (which is the single most important preventative measure),
- No antiseptic and asepsis techniques when performing ward procedures.
- Careless management of infected wounds.
