The risk of infection is always present:

 Patient may acquire infection before admission to the hospital =

Community acquired infection.
 Patient may get infected inside the hospital = Nosocomial
infection.
 It includes infections
 not present nor incubating at admission,
 infections that appear more than 48 hours after admission,
 those acquired in the hospital but appear after discharge
 also occupational infections among staff.

 Important cause of
 Additional morbidity

 Prolonged hospitalization

 Mortality &Increased cost of hospitalization

HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION (NOSOCOMIAL):

 Infections that are a result of health care delivery, not present at
admission
• EXOGENOUS
• ENDOGENOUS
• IATROGENIC
  Links to the Chain of Infection:

What is Nosocomial Infection:

 Any infection that is not present or incubating at the time the patient is
admitted to the hospital

 INFECTIONS THAT OCCUR AS CONSEQUENCE OF Medical Care

Whether Or Not They Arise During Hospitalization

 Infections Are Considered Nosocomial If They First Appear 48 Hours Or

More After Hospital Admission Or Within 30 Days After Discharge

Common Health-Care Associated Infections:

  CLABSI(Center line associated blood stream infection)

 CAUTI (Catheter associated Urinary Tract Infection)

 VAP (Ventilator Associated Pneumonia)

 SSI (Surgical Site Infection)

Modes of Transmission:
 Contact (Direct & Indirect)

 Droplet

 Airborne

 Vehicles

 Vectors

CONTACT ISOLATION:
 Used to prevent transmission of microorganisms spread by direct/indirect
contact with the source

 examples:

• MRSA

• VRE

• contagious skin infections… Lice & Scabies

DROPLET ISOLATION:
  used to prevent transmission of microorganisms spread by large, moist
droplets inhaled by or landing on the mucous membranes of the susceptible
host

 examples:

 Influenza

 Neisseria meningitidis

 some pneumonias

 vaccine preventable diseases:

 rubella, mumps, pertussis

AIRBORNE ISOLATION:

 used to prevent transmission of microorganisms spread on very small

particles that drift on air currents (droplet nuclei, dust)

 examples:

• pulmonary Tuberculosis

• varicella

• measles