Healthcare-Associated Infections

{"title":"Healthcare-Associated Infections","url":"https:\/\/go.openathens.net\/redirector\/shalina.com?url=https%3A%2F%2Febsco.smartimagebase.com%2Fview-item%3FItemID%3D74921","id":"74921","category":null,"therapy_area":["Infectious Disease & Vaccines"," Surgery"," Emergency Medicine"],"keywords":null,"description":"MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, are infections you may get in a healthcare facility while you are receiving treatment for a different condition. Bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA, enterococcus species, and Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, are frequently the cause of healthcare-associated infections. These infections are a major cause of death around the world. One of the most common ways these bacteria get passed from person to person is through lack of proper hand hygiene. When people don't clean their hands, they can transfer microbes from one patient to another or from one part of the body to another on the same patient. There are four common types of healthcare-associated infections. A surgical wound infection can result when bacteria get into your incision and spread through your tissues, leading to infection. A urinary tract infection can occur when you have a catheter in your bladder, which is a tube used to drain your urine. Bacteria can enter your urinary system on the catheter, enabling the bacteria to travel into your bladder, where they can grow. A bloodstream infection can occur when you have a central line in your vein, which is a slender tube used to deliver fluids or medications into a large vein near your heart. Bacteria can enter the skin around the insertion site or directly into your bloodstream, where they can cause infection. Pneumonia can result when you are on a ventilator or breathing machine. Bacteria can enter your throat while you are being placed on the ventilator. Then, you may inhale the bacteria into your lungs, leading to infection that can cause pneumonia. Hand hygiene, a simple, low-cost, and effective procedure, is the single most important method of preventing healthcare-associated infections. All people in healthcare facilities, including patients, visitors, and medical personnel, can help prevent these infections by cleaning their hands frequently. Hand hygiene can be performed with soap and running water for 40 to 60 seconds or by thoroughly rubbing on an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 20 to 30 seconds. If you are receiving healthcare, you are part of the healthcare team, and you should make sure that everyone who comes into contact with you cleans their hands."}