15 March 2019 Author : Joana Mapril They can, however, be prevented by taking some simple measures. The most important thing is for professionals, patients and visitors to wash their hands correctly. What are healthcare-associated infections? Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) are infections acquired in the context of healthcare and result from receiving this care. Also known as nosocomial infections , they are infections that were neither present nor in the incubation stage when the patient was admitted to hospital, with symptoms only showing on the third day of their time in hospital. An infection is also considered a nosocomial infection when: The patient is admitted with an infection after having been discharged from hospital less than 48 hours earlier; The patient is admitted with an infected surgical wound; The patient is admitted due to Clostridium difficile infection after being discharged from hospital. How and why do these infections come about? HCAIs can occur in two ways : By transmission of micro-organisms within the hospital environment or by the patient's own microbial flora. These micro-organisms cross the protective barriers of the body via the respiratory pathway, through catheters or other invasive access points, leading to infections; By antibiotic selective pressure, through the selection of more aggressive micro-organisms, which ends up causing infection where there was none originally. What are the symptoms of healthcare-associated infections? Nosocomial infections can affect various organic systems , depending on how and where the micro-organisms enter the system. The symptoms , which do not all need to be present, are the same as for infections acquired outside the hospital, i.e.: Pain in the affected area; Flushing; Heat; Malaise; Fever. How are HCAIs diagnosed? By objective examination performed by the doctor and by complementary diagnostic methods such as blood tests, X-rays , etc. It is important to remember the start date and type of symptoms to tell the doctor during the visit. What are the consequences of hospital infections? Nosocomial infections involve serious social and economic costs , the most significant of which are: Reduction in patients’ quality of life; Morbidity (rate of disease carriers relative to the total population); Mortality. Other important consequences of HCAIs are: Increased medical costs; Increased number of days spent in hospital; Increased consumption of antibiotics; Increased use of medical devices and complementary methods of diagnosis. The reduced productivity of sufferers, although not a direct cost of the condition, is also considerable. So how are they treated? They are treated with appropriate antibiotics or antifungal agents. More importantly, how can HCAIs be prevented? Hospitals need to have hospital infection control committees , the main responsibility of which is to prevent and control infection. Nosocomial infections can be prevented by the use of basic measures , the most important of which is the correct washing (sanitation) of hands by professionals, patients and visitors. Other essential factors are: Appropriate training for all professionals; Rules on prevention and control of the main types of infection; Liability of professionals in compliance with these rules; Surveillance plan for hospital micro-organisms; The commitment of senior management in combating healthcare-associated infections. Meet the internal medicine team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
