Prevention and Control of Hospital Infections

Prevention and Control of Infections in Hospitals

Importance of Infection Prevention

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a major patient safety issue, causing over 90% of patient injuries.
• HAIs are responsible for more than 147,000 patient deaths each year in European hospitals.

Infection Control and Surveillance

• Good hygiene practices, personal infection protection, cleanliness, and textile treatment are crucial to prevent infections.
• Daily infection surveillance, infection detection, and contraceptive measures are necessary to stop the spread of infections.
• Infection control is a shared responsibility among healthcare professionals, hospital leaders, and government agencies.

Hospital Infections

• Hospital infections can occur in 5-20% or more of hospitalized patients.
• Infections may spread between healthcare levels and lead to unfavorable outcomes for patients.
• Viral infections like influenza and norovirus can spread rapidly and lead to department closures.

High-Risk Infections

• Severe hospital infections include postoperative wound infections, intravascular and blood-borne infections, and infections in lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.
• Infections in neonates and premature patients with impaired infection defense are particularly concerning.

Global Spread of Infections

• Resistant and pathogenic microbes pose a global risk to patients, employees, visitors, and society.
• Continuous readiness with effective measures is necessary to combat epidemics and pandemics.

Target Audience

• This book is intended for health professionals, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, as well as students in health-related subjects, hospital leaders, and health agencies.

• Patients and their relatives may also benefit from this book.### Patient Protection Is Patient Safety

• Patient safety is dependent on the quality of care, treatment, and protection against adverse events

• Key elements of patient safety include:

• Competent leadership and responsibility from healthcare providers

• Effective hospital organization and practices to prevent healthcare-associated infections

• Ongoing commitment to improving healthcare quality and patient outcomes### Patient Safety and Protection

• Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are a major concern, causing over 90% of adverse events in hospitals.

• In the US, HAIs are estimated to cause over 110,000 patient deaths annually, with 99,000 attributed to medical failures.

• In Europe, HAIs may cause 37,000 deaths and contribute to an additional 110,000 annually.

Factors Contributing to Adverse Events

• Overcrowding, high bed occupancy rates (>85%), and understaffing are associated with increased HAIs.
• Other factors include:
  • Lack of hygiene and cleanliness
  • Inadequate monitoring of sick patients
  • Transferring patients to another department without the "right" speciality
  • Early discharges due to shortage of patient beds
  • Corridor patients

Leadership and Management

• Hospital leaders have a responsibility to protect patients against adverse events.
• Lack of leader competence and responsibility can lead to increased HAIs.
• Management factors contributing to HAIs include:
  • Too large a span of control for managers
  • Weak leadership with unclear routines and responsibilities
  • Lack of active support for infection control measures
  • High personnel turnover and low morale

Hospital Organization and Infections

• Hospital organization and infrastructure are important factors in patient safety.
• Inadequate maintenance and functionality of hospital buildings can lead to reduced patient safety.
• Poor cleaning and hygiene practices can increase the risk of infections.

Specific Examples and Case Studies

• In 2008, overcrowding in NHS hospitals in England led to widespread resistant bacterial infections.
• The Royal College of Surgeons warned patients against admissions to hospitals with high occupancy rates.
• In Norway, the healthcare system has undergone significant changes, leading to a decrease in patient beds and an increase in HAIs.
• Economic savings measures have led to increased HAIs in Norwegian hospitals.

Healthcare System Challenges

• The healthcare system has been through major changes, leading to increased risks for patients and personnel.
• New hospitals have been built, but resources have been taken from existing hospitals for maintenance and reconstruction.
• The patient's role has been reduced, and the focus has shifted to cost analyses and economic savings.

Statistics and Figures

• In Norway, the number of patient beds has been halved from 6 to 3 per 1000 inhabitants between 1990 and 2017.
• The total number of patient beds has been reduced from 4 to 2.5 per 1000 inhabitants.
• The healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP in Norway has been below the OECD average.
• The country has a high bed occupancy rate, with an average of 91.6% in acute medicine.