Introduction
Healthcare-associated infections occur when patients contract infections during their hospital stay. They pose a significant threat since they spread quite quickly among other patients and medical workers and can cause complications of diseases. Therefore, preventing the spread of infections is crucial in the treatment of inpatients. This paper will analyze the extent of the problem and, based on evidence analysis, provide recommendations to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals.
Relevance of the Topic
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most common complications for patients in hospitals. HAIs not only cause inconvenience and deterioration in the health of patients, but also significantly prolong the patient’s stay in the hospital and can lead to death (Hooker et al., 2020). The frequency of infections in the hospital setting determines the reliability and safety of healthcare providers. Therefore, healthcare professionals should take the necessary measures to prevent the emergence and spread of HAIs in the hospital to ensure effective treatment of patients without complications.
The most common cause of healthcare-associated infections in hospitals is considered to be an incorrect or incomplete diagnosis of patients upon admission to a hospital or the delayed detection of infectious diseases in them. However, Haque et al. (2018) state that HAIs can “appear 48 hours or more after hospitalization or within 30 days after having received health care” (p. 2321).
Therefore, when patients are admitted to the hospital, detection of infection is not always possible. In this regard, it is crucial to take preventive measures to prevent the spread of infection. In addition, surgical site and gastrointestinal infections are pretty common among HAIs (Haque et al., 2018). Therefore, the approach to solving this problem should be comprehensive to reduce the risks of patient infection during the provision of healthcare services.
Evidence Evaluation
Preventing healthcare-associated infections requires a comprehensive approach. First, medical institutions should have infection control policies that identify groups of patients who are at a higher risk of developing infectious diseases. In addition to becoming patient null in HAIs, such patients are also more vulnerable to infections that most often have severe consequences for them. For example, patients with serious illnesses such as cancer are at higher risk (Ariza-Heredia & Chemaly, 2018). In addition, older people and patients after surgery are at greater risk of infection.
The researchers cite good hand hygiene as the main precaution for infectious diseases among hospital patients. For example, Ariza-Heredia and Chemaly (2018) state that “handhygiene must be on the frontline in the care of patients” as it reduces the risk of infection by 25% (p. 342). Hand hygiene should be applied to both patients and healthcare professionals providing healthcare services. Nurses should wash their hands before and after interacting with patients. Healthcare providers should ensure that patients follow proper hand hygiene practices.
Furthermore, the diet of patients plays a crucial role in preventing the occurrence of infectious diseases. Therefore, in addition to hygiene standards, hospitals must adhere to food safety standards for patients (Ariza-Heredia & Chemaly, 2018). This includes the use of quality products that have been properly processed before consumption.
Another precaution is the use of special protective clothing for staff and the provision of masks for patients. According to the World Health Organization’s recommendations (2020), in addition to hand hygiene, it is essential to adhere to respiratory hygiene measures, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is necessary to inform and educate patients about the preventive measures they need to take to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in hospitals.
Moreover, for patients with severe diseases and after surgery, it is necessary to create a protective environment or isolate them from other patients. This implies a “combination with barrier isolation and air-quality control” in conjunction with other preventive measures (Ariza-Heredia & Chemaly, 2018, p. 343). Creating a protective environment involves continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition and an ongoing assessment of existing risks. Additionally, in patient isolation conditions, there is a need to regularly ventilate and disinfect the premises.
Recommendations
Firstly, the hospital must be aware of the possibility of healthcare-associated infections in patients and have a plan of action in place for such cases. The department must have a nurse who specializes in infectious diseases and can coordinate the actions of other medical staff in the event of HAIs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). This is necessary to quickly identify the infection and take measures to localize it and prevent its spread.
Additionally, implementing hand hygiene standards for healthcare workers and patients is necessary. For educational purposes and to promote the importance of regular handwashing, posters can be displayed to remind people of the importance of good hygiene (World Health Organization, 2020).
Moreover, it is necessary to regularly monitor the quality of food products to prevent gastrointestinal infections. In the event of an infection in a hospital, it is necessary to isolate infected patients and patients from vulnerable categories as soon as possible. At the same time, it is essential to regularly monitor and assess their condition to provide timely medical care and prevent complications.
In addition, regular disinfection of equipment and premises is necessary. Hand and medical equipment can be treated with alcohol-based solutions (World Health Organization, 2020). Rooms should be cleaned and ventilated regularly to create a safe environment for patients. Cleaning can be done with disinfectants such as “hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, and paracetic acid” (Ariza-Heredia & Chemaly, 2018, p. 348). Moreover, it should be borne in mind that manual cleaning may not always be effective enough, so the use of automated technologies is recommended to ensure greater patient safety.
Conclusion
Thus, healthcare-associated infections are a fairly common problem that often causes complications and worsens patients’ conditions. Therefore, intervention by healthcare professionals to address this issue and prevent HAIs in hospitals is needed. Evidence analysis has shown that the most effective measures to prevent the emergence and spread of infections are hand hygiene, regular cleaning and disinfection of rooms, and monitoring patient nutrition. In addition, healthcare providers should have plans in place to deal with HAIs in the hospital. However, these measures have a positive effect only in cases of complex applications.
References
Ariza‐Heredia, E. J., & Chemaly, R. F. (2018). Update on infection control practices in cancer hospitals. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(5), 340-355.
Centres of Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). CDC’s core infection prevention and control practices for safe healthcare delivery in all settings.
Haque, M., Sartelli, M., McKimm, J., & Bakar, M. A. (2018). Health care-associated infections–an overview. Infection and drug resistance, 11, 2321-2333.
Hooker, C., Hor, S., Wyer, M., Gilbert, G. L., Jorm, C., & Iedema, R. (2020). Trajectories of hospital infection control: using non-representational theory to understand and improve infection prevention and control. Social Science & Medicine, 256, 113023.
World Health Organization. (2020). Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected: interim guidance, 19 March 2020 (No. WHO/2019-nCoV/IPC/2020.3). World Health Organization.