Shikha SaxenaSep 11, 2020·4 min read

Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections (NCI) are infections which are acquired by patients during hospital stay. These infections are caught by patients during healthcare facility stay or use of medical equipment during hospital stay. These infections are not present at the time of admission of patient. With information and judicial use of medical equipment and personalized and focused care, we can avoid risk of fatal infections and sepsis through hospital acquired infections. My heart goes out for those who risk their lives everyday, to fight and save our loved ones, in healthcare settings during such an unprecedented time! Unavoidable personal incidents in my home country, to my elderly folks, compelled me to convey through Medium, about such dreaded infections and how to avoid unforeseen!

What are Nosocomial Infections?

Nosocomial Infections are acquired by patients during hospital stay while patient is admitted to hospital, due to other underlying medical condition as Heart problems , Kidney disease or other clinical problems. Those infections are absent at the time of admission of patient ( at least 15 days prior to the positive COVID-19 diagnosis in today’s scenario of global pandemic).

The term HAI or Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) and Nosocomial Infections are used interchangeably. Such an infection can be acquired in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics or other clinical settings, ambulatory surgical centers during procedures or use of hospital equipment(as catheters, ventilators ) and other similar means.

Public health authorities take special measures, also conduct surveillance programmes, guide and advise healthcare facilities to control and prevent infections in healthcare establishments (as hospitals and clinics and care centers).

Generally infections are transmitted by microorganism, Staphylococcus aureus, the gram positive bacterium found in upper respiratory tract mostly nose and skin, in most of the people. Not all but some of the strains are found to be alarming, and major contributors of serious and fatal infections in hospital settings.

These round, sphere shaped bacteria often cause skin infections and can cause Pneumonia, Heart Valve infections and bone infections.

Nosocomial Infection, Pandemic (COVID-19) and Hospitalizations

COVID-19 has become Global Pandemic since its manifestation in March -April 2020. It is an infectious respiratory disease caused by novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. the first batch of patients were admitted globally in December 2019. The disease is transmitted by nasal droplets by airborne respiratory particles or through close contact. Clinical symptoms are cough, fever and severe complications arising from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

By now we all know that everybody is susceptible to this disease whether showing symptoms (symptomatic) or not (asymptomatic). Risk of this infection increases in healthcare facilities.

Healthcare workers in hospitals, caretakers and especially patients with other medical conditions, who already have less immunity to fight infections, are at higher risk of contacting it. Thus leading to Hospital Acquired or Nosocomial Infections.

How Nosocomial Infections are spread during Pandemic?

HAI are acquired by means of healthcare interventions during or after medical procedures.

Following list describe how patient may acquire hospital infections once admitted due to other underlying medical conditions:

• Healthcare staff to patient contact can spread pathogenic infection.
• Use of contaminated equipment, linens, air droplets, vessels and utensils used in medical facility.
• Outside infections carried through staff and visitors (Staphylococcus aureus infections).
• Infection originating through microbes of patients own skin in medical setting.
• Use of unsafe medications.
• Use of shared invasive and noninvasive medical equipment as catheters and ventilators.
• Sepsis (life threatening condition) as a patients body response, to fight infections and as a result causing injury to own tissues and organs.

Risk of Nosocomial Infections (acquired infections) are heavy and may lead to fatal Staphylococcus infections and life threatening sepsis.

During Global Pandemic (COVID-19) hospitalizations have increased to alarming levels and risk of such unwanted acquired infections have also gone up. Major studies and clinical researches are under pipeline to study and eradicate such infections and avoid risk and health complications in patients who are already in hospitals.

Beside cleanliness, senitization, being informed, spreading awareness and and keeping a close watch on first onset of symptoms of infections and consequent sepsis, in your loved ones, in hospital and home care setting is of utmost importance!

Spreading timely and relevant healthcare information, guidelines and awareness among our loved ones we can help save their lives and increase chances of survival! Judicial use of medical equipment in home and hospital settings, focused personal care, the risk of fatal infections and sepsis, through Hospital acquired or Nosocomial Infections may be reduced to some extent!

We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same , and worth saving.

— J.K. Rowling