5.8:
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
HAIs, increase morbidity and mortality rates, hospital stay lengths, and overall costs. They are an indicator of the quality of patient care and adverse events and are a patient safety issue.
However, HAIs are preventable, and healthcare agencies apply various measures to reduce their prevalence.
The agencies' continuous surveillance helps to develop new approaches to prevent HAIs.
Monitoring the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms, decontaminating the treatment environment and equipment, and antimicrobial stewardship lowers their incidence.
In addition, training all healthcare workers on infection control practices plays a vital role in preventing HAIs.
Staff should follow institutional guidelines and apply standard and transmission-based precautions such as using personal protective equipment.
Nurses can avoid contracting or passing on HAIs by keeping themselves healthy, meeting their nutritional needs, and ensuring they do not come to work if they feel unwell.
Additionally, handwashing with soap and water or alcohol rub is essential for maintaining personal hygiene and preventing HAIs.
5.8:
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk assessment, and appropriate strategies to reduce risk. Risk reduction strategies include cleaning the environment and supplies, disinfecting and sterilizing the equipment, using single-use equipment, appropriate linen management, waste management, handling sharps, personal protective equipment, and optimal patient placement.