The basic conditions of hospital-acquired infections are source of infection, route of transmission, host susceptibility, destructive interventions, and hospital environment.
Hospital-acquired infections, also known as healthcare-associated infections or healthcare-associated infections, are infections that occur after admission to a patient who receives services from a hospital or other healthcare facility. Hospital-acquired infections are a major problem in public **** health and health care, with important implications for patient health, treatment outcomes, and health care resource utilization.
1, the source of infection: the source of infection is the fundamental source of hospital infection. The source of infection can be pathogens carried by patients themselves, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. At the same time, various objects, equipment, surfaces and air in the hospital environment may also become sources of infection. The spread of hospital infections is mainly through the source of infection to reach the susceptible population.
2, transmission: hospital infections are mainly transmitted through three main transmission channels: contact, airborne and droplet transmission. Contact transmission refers to direct contact between the patient and the source of infection or contact with infected surfaces; airborne transmission refers to the transmission of pathogens to others through the suspension of tiny particles in the air; droplet transmission refers to the transmission of pathogens contained in coughing, sneezing, talking when the droplets enter others through the respiratory tract. These routes of transmission make it easy to spread pathogens to other patients, healthcare workers, visitors, etc.
3, host susceptibility: the occurrence of hospital infections and host susceptibility is closely related. Susceptible hosts are individuals with weak immune function or impaired immune system, such as the elderly, newborns, postoperative patients, critically ill patients or patients using immunosuppressive drugs. These populations have reduced resistance to pathogens and are more susceptible to infection.
4, destructive interventions: some interventions in the hospital environment and medical behavior may also contribute to the occurrence of infection. For example, invasive procedures such as surgery, catheterization, intravenous catheterization, and tracheal intubation may introduce pathogens and increase the risk of infection. In addition, prolonged bed occupancy and overuse of antibiotics may disrupt the normal microbial community balance, leading to the emergence of superbugs.
5, hospital environment: hospital environment is one of the important conditions for the occurrence of hospital infections. Hospitals are densely populated, pathogens tend to accumulate on surfaces and equipment, poor air circulation and other characteristics, making it easier for pathogens to spread in hospitals. In addition, environmental management practices such as hospital cleaning and disinfection measures, air circulation and filtration systems, and waste disposal also affect the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
Measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections
1. Provide good healthcare facilities and environments, ensuring basic conditions such as cleanliness, ventilation and water treatment.
2. Strengthen infection control measures, including hand hygiene, sterilization of medical equipment, and isolation measures.
3. Strictly implement infection prevention guidelines related to aseptic and invasive practices.
4, strengthen the education and training, improve the infection prevention awareness and knowledge of medical staff and patients.
5, strengthen monitoring and reporting, timely detection and control of hospital infection outbreaks and aggregation of events.