A nosocomial infection is described as an infection that develops in a hospital environment, such as one acquired by a patient during a
hospital visit or one developing among hospital staff. Such infections
include fungal and bacterial infections and are aggravated by the
reduced resistance of individual patients.” [1]
Risk factors
Three main criteria broadly enclose the factors predisposing a patient
to infection in a hospital setting:
1) Increased susceptibility: evidently, patients admitted in
hospitals have poor state of health, which means lower defense quality
against bacteria. This group includes elderly, premature babies and
immunodeficient (because of drug abuse, illness or irradiation therapy).
Additionally patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases have
specifically increased chances of respiratory tract infection.
2) Invasive devices: for instance incubation tubes, catheters, surgical
drains, and tracheotomy tubes as they have already overcome bodies
primary defense line. Patients already colonized on admission are
instantly put at greater risk when they undergo an invasive procedure.
3) Medications or treatment (e.g. repeated blood transfusions)
themselves make the patient vulnerable to infections, e.g. antacid
treatment or antimicrobial therapy (which eliminates competitive flora
and allows flourishing of resistant organisms)
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