Fundamentals of Infection Prevention and Control

Question: Write about theFundamentals of Infection Prevention and Control. Answer: Introduction Hospital acquired infections also known as nosocomial infections have been a common incidence in health centers which put the lives of health workers, patients and visitors at risk of infection. The most common nosocomial infections include respiratory and gastrointestinal infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis among other infections. These micro organisms are highly effective in poorly maintained environments and pose a great danger to patients since their immunity is already weakened. This paper explores the prevalence rate of these micro organisms, the impact of hospital acquired infections and the current infection, control and prevention methods for these micro organisms. Common Micro-Organisms Responsible for Hospital Acquired Infections and the Prevalence Rates Tille, (2015) holds that the most common micro-organisms that cause these infections include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichi coli, Bacilus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The micro-organisms have been classified into several types based on biological and clinical characteristics. These pathogens are readily available since they can be transmitted through various methods such as contact, unhygienic conditions and contaminated food and water. The greatest threat of these pathogens is the fact that some of them such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among others are drug resistant. This raises concern in the control of these pathogens and the diseases they are responsible of causing such as the urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas. Dinh, et al (2016) explains that the prevalence rates of these micro-organisms largely depend in the hygiene and hospital routine practices. Breaching of the infection and control measures among health practitioners and incompetence may pose several risks to contamination by these pathogens. The existing hospital practices such as putting patients with different conditions in a similar ward may also influence the availability and spread of these pathogens. Overcrowding caused by insufficient resources may also increase and accelerate the spread of these pathogens especially those pathogens that are highly communicable through air such as Staphylococcus aureus. The scale of operation of a health institution also influences the number of conditions they deal with. This raises concern in hospital that deal with so many conditions (Legeay, et al 2015). The prevalence rate of hospital acquired infections is different in several parts of the world. In North America and Europe, the prevalence rate is about 7% as compared to Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America where the prevalence rate is about 40%. This may than infer that nosocomial infections contribute to more than 20% of mortality in the underdeveloped and the developing world. Rate and Impact of Hospital Acquired Infections Hospital acquired infections have caused profound impacts on the patients, the health care professional and other subordinate workers and the patients visitors. The conditions have mostly impacted on patients especially the in patients who spend most of their time in the wards and whose immunity has been weakened by various other disease infections. Ventilator associated pneumonia is a good example of a disease that affects patients in intensive care units. Research has proven that about 20% of patients who go to ICU develop the condition. It then makes it hard for these patients to survive and it thus poses a risk to these patients survival. The centers for disease control and prevention project that more than two million people suffer from nosocomial infections. Despite the fact that majority of these people survive, these infections are a common cause of mortality. They also weaken the immunity of the patients who later die due to other lesser threatening conditions. The infected individuals also spread these diseases to other parts thus increasing the prevalence of these infections to the unaffected lot. Mitchell, et al (2015) hospital acquired infections have harsh economic impacts on the government and the hospitals. It is estimated that the US government spends at least $4 billion every year in control, management and prevention practices of these infections. The health care centers also register several million dollars in prevention and control of the hospital acquired infections. The financial constraints are also felt by the individuals who spend so much on medication and care of the patients. Social impacts of these infections include loss of relatives and financial constraints resulting to poverty in the affected families. These families may also lose the productive lot hence suffering struggles in family upkeep and access to quality social services due to financial constraints. The families and the community also suffer grief and loss of helpful individuals such as healthcare providers to these conditions that are largely preventable. Infection, Control and Prevention of Staphylococcus Aureus Staphylococcus aureus refers to a bacterium commonly found on the skin surface and the respiratory tract. It is a facultative anaerobe and is known for causing skin defects, food poisoning and respiratory defects. There is no identified vaccine for the micro organism and the emergence of antibiotic resistant strain of staphylococcus has been an object of concern due to the increased risk and infection rates of the gram positive bacterium (Dantes, et al 2013). The bacterium causes fatal bone and heart infection and targets various groups of people such as diabetic people, people with weakened immunity and individuals who have had a surgery in their lives. According to Bennett, Dolin and Blaser, (2014) some of the major preventive and control practices of Staphylococcus aureus include hand washing practices, proper hygiene and sanitation. Keeping clothes clean and other surfaces prevents the spread of the bacterium through the contact and consumption in foods and drinks. Lack of sharing of personal items also prevents the spread through contact from one person to another. Other practices part of prevention includes avoiding overcrowding and ensuring all wounds and cuts are well dressed. In the health centers, specialists have made efforts in ensuring that patients are isolated and both the patients and the staff are decolonized in order to minimize the risk of contamination. Conclusion It is important that people realizes that hospital acquired infection cause detrimental effects to all people that can be avoidable. It is thus very important that every individual adhere to disease center for disease control and prevention interventions and ensure they contribute significant efforts to the eradication of these conditions. the government and research centres also need to become aggressive in fighting these micro organisms and sensitizing people on the possible threats of these micro organisms and the various practices they should engage in to provide a solution to these challenges. References Bennett, J. E., Dolin, R., Blaser, M. J. (2014).Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences. Dantes, R., Mu, Y., Belflower, R., Aragon, D., Dumyati, G., Harrison, L. H., ... Ray, S. M. (2013). 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