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Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections and Pandemic
Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections (NCI) are infections which are acquired by patients during hospital stay. These infections are caught by patients during healthcare facility stay or use of medical equipment during hospital stay. These infections are not present at the time of admission of patient. With information and judicial use of medical equipment and personalized and focused care, we can avoid risk of fatal infections and sepsis through hospital acquired infections. My heart goes out for those who risk their lives everyday, to fight and save our loved ones, in healthcare settings during such an unprecedented time! Unavoidable personal incidents in my home country, to my elderly folks, compelled me to convey through Medium, about such dreaded infections and how to avoid unforeseen!
What are Nosocomial Infections?
Nosocomial Infections are acquired by patients during hospital stay while patient is admitted to hospital, due to other underlying medical condition as Heart problems , Kidney disease or other clinical problems. Those infections are absent at the time of admission of patient ( at least 15 days prior to the positive COVID-19 diagnosis in today's scenario of global pandemic).
The term HAI or Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) and Nosocomial Infections are used interchangeably. Such an infection can be acquired in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics or other clinical settings, ambulatory surgical centers during procedures or use of hospital equipment(as catheters, ventilators ) and other similar means.
Public health authorities take special measures, also conduct surveillance programmes, guide and advise healthcare facilities to control and prevent infections in healthcare establishments (as hospitals and clinics and care centers).
Generally infections are transmitted by microorganism, Staphylococcus aureus, the gram positive bacterium found in upper respiratory tract mostly nose and skin, in most of the people. Not all but some of the strains are found to be alarming, and major contributors of serious and fatal infections in hospital settings.
