Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

Nosocomial infections are also referred to as hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Such infections are acquired by patients during their visit to a healthcare facility.

These infections were not present or incubating at the time of entry but might have originated from sources such as medical equipment, surgery, or surfaces containing pathogens.

Examples of common nosocomial infections are urinary tract infections, infections occurring in relation to surgical sites, those in the bloodstream, and other cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Nosocomial infections are affected by many factors such as age of the patient, immunity status of the patient, days of stay in the hospital, and use of invasive devices like catheter or ventilator.

Additionally, the increasing threat of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, including MRSA and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter, makes them an impressive challenge to manage these infections. This can even worsen protracted hospital stay, high health care expenditures, and a higher morbidity and mortality rate. Nosocomial infections are significantly minimized through infection control.

This mainly includes scrupulous hand hygiene practice, sterile and proper disinfection of health-care equipment, isolation of patients carrying contagious infections and the proper use of personal protective equipment among the health-care providers.

Some monitoring and surveillance programs help the earlier identification of outbreaks and targeting of interventions.

Finally, antimicrobial stewardship programs contribute to minimizing overuse of antibiotics, thus combating the development of resistant strains.

Prevention of nosocomial infections requires a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary engagement by healthcare providers and patients as well as the hospital administration.

Proper education and training of healthcare personnel on infection control practices and evidence-based guidelines have highly reduced HAI rates.

Advanced technologies such as ultraviolet light disinfection and automated hand hygiene monitoring systems are today becoming increasing useful tools in enhancing infection control efforts.

In relation to this, it will introduce the causes, consequences, and measures to prevent nosocomial infections, with emphasis on the importance of infection control in health facilities.

It will highlight an effective approach concerning the management of HAIs, and the fight against antimicrobial resistance.