Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections: Strategies For Patient Safety

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant cause for concern, with about 1 in 31 hospitalized patients in the US contracting an HAI. HAIs are infections that develop during or soon after receiving care in a healthcare setting, and they can lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. While the risk of infection can never be completely eliminated, there are several strategies that can be implemented to prevent and control HAIs. These include maintaining strict hand hygiene, ensuring proper equipment disinfection and sterilization, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and implementing effective antibiotic stewardship programs. Additionally, patients and their loved ones can also play a role in preventing HAIs by practicing good hand hygiene, staying home when sick, and following recommended precautions such as wearing masks.

Maintain strict environmental hygiene, including handwashing

Maintaining strict environmental hygiene, including handwashing, is crucial in preventing hospital-acquired infections. This includes both handwashing practices by hospital staff and patients, as well as maintaining hygiene throughout the hospital environment.

Hand hygiene is a fundamental aspect of preventing the spread of hospital-acquired infections. It is essential for healthcare workers to practice proper handwashing techniques, as their hands can transmit pathogens from one patient to another. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are recommended when soap and water are not accessible, but proper handwashing with soap and water is the best method. Patients and visitors should also be encouraged to practice good hand hygiene, washing their hands frequently and using hand sanitizer when necessary.

In addition to handwashing, maintaining a clean and sanitary hospital environment is crucial. Hospital surfaces, including beds, mattresses, linen, bed rails, door handles, call bells, and light switches, are prone to microbial contamination with high-risk microbes. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these surfaces are necessary to prevent the spread of infections. Hospitals should implement infection control programs to ensure that proper cleaning procedures are followed and that the hospital environment is maintained at a high standard of cleanliness.

Furthermore, hospitals can participate in surveillance programs to monitor infection rates and measure the impact of their infection prevention practices. This allows them to identify areas of improvement and adjust their practices accordingly. Additionally, hospitals should have policies and procedures in place to support infection prevention and control activities, including risk assessment and antibiotic stewardship programs.

By maintaining strict environmental hygiene, including proper handwashing practices and regular cleaning of the hospital environment, hospitals can significantly reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and improve patient safety.

Implement infection control procedures and policies

Implementing infection control procedures and policies is essential for preventing hospital-acquired infections. Here are some measures that can be taken:

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of infections. Healthcare workers should practice proper handwashing techniques with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially before and after interacting with patients or medical equipment. Patients and visitors should also be encouraged to maintain good hand hygiene.

Training and Education

Providing comprehensive training and education to healthcare staff is vital. This includes educating them about infection control practices, the importance of hand hygiene, the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the latest guidelines and protocols for preventing infections. Regular training sessions and updates can help ensure compliance and reduce the risk of infections.

Surveillance and Monitoring

Hospitals should implement surveillance programs to monitor infection rates and identify areas of improvement. Regular audits and feedback from patients can help measure the effectiveness of infection control practices. Additionally, hospitals can collaborate with infectious disease specialists or pharmacists to improve antibiotic prescribing practices and reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Environmental Hygiene

Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is crucial. Hospital surfaces, medical equipment, and patient areas should be regularly disinfected to prevent the spread of microorganisms. This includes both porous and non-porous surfaces, such as beds, mattresses, linen, door handles, and light switches, which are prone to microbial contamination.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Appropriate use of PPE is essential for healthcare workers. This includes wearing masks, gloves, gowns, goggles, and hair coverings when interacting with patients, especially in clinical or intensive care settings. Proper donning and doffing techniques for PPE should be taught and enforced to ensure maximum protection for healthcare workers and patients.

Risk Assessment and Antibiotic Stewardship

Hospitals should conduct proactive risk assessments to identify potential sources of infections and implement preventive measures. This includes optimizing antibiotic prescribing practices, monitoring antibiotic use and resistance patterns, and following guidelines from initiatives like the Choosing Wisely initiative, which provides recommendations to reduce infection risks.

Improve antibiotic stewardship and prescribing practices

Improving antibiotic stewardship and prescribing practices is essential to prevent hospital-acquired infections. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Firstly, hospitals should implement strict antibiotic stewardship programs. This involves appointing a dedicated program leader who oversees a multidisciplinary team. This team should include infectious disease physicians and pharmacists to ensure proper consultation on antimicrobial options. Additionally, hospitals should monitor antibiotic use and resistance patterns to make data-driven decisions and implement evidence-based strategies. This includes following guidelines from initiatives like the Choosing Wisely initiative, which offers recommendations to reduce the risk of HAIs and improve quality of care.

Secondly, hospitals should focus on educating and training their staff on proper antibiotic prescribing practices. This includes understanding when antibiotics are necessary and when they are not, as well as the appropriate dosage, timing, and duration of treatment. Studies have shown that hospital physicians often do not prescribe antibiotics properly, so ongoing education and training can help address this issue.

Thirdly, hospitals should develop and adhere to standardized infection control processes and procedures. This includes measures such as hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). These measures should be followed by both healthcare workers and patients to reduce the spread of infections.

Lastly, hospitals should participate in surveillance programs to monitor infection rates and measure the effectiveness of their infection prevention practices. This allows for continuous improvement and the ability to quickly identify and address any areas of concern.

By implementing these strategies, hospitals can improve antibiotic stewardship and prescribing practices, ultimately reducing the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections and improving patient outcomes.

Use personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks is crucial in preventing the spread of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). HAIs are infections that patients acquire while receiving care in a healthcare facility, and they are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.

The use of PPE and face masks acts as a barrier to prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms between healthcare workers, patients, and visitors. This is especially important when in close contact with patients, during medical procedures, or when handling infectious materials. PPE and face masks help to protect the wearer from exposure to harmful bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents.

The specific type of PPE required will depend on the nature of the infection and the level of exposure risk. At a minimum, healthcare workers should wear gloves, a gown, eye protection, and a face mask when treating patients with infectious diseases. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC recommends that all individuals wear face masks in indoor clinical spaces, and healthcare workers should also use appropriate PPE, such as N95 respirators, goggles, hair coverings, and gloves.

In addition to wearing PPE, it is essential to follow proper donning and doffing procedures to ensure the safe removal and disposal of contaminated equipment. This includes hand hygiene practices, such as washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers before and after removing PPE.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of PPE and face masks in preventing HAIs is enhanced when combined with other infection control measures. This includes maintaining strict environmental hygiene, especially on hospital surfaces that are prone to microbial contamination. Additionally, hospitals should implement standardized infection control processes and participate in surveillance programs to monitor infection rates and measure the impact of prevention practices.

Reduce risk factors, e.g. length of stay, surgical procedures

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality, causing the death of thousands of people every year. HCAIs are infections that patients catch when receiving care in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital, GP surgery, or nursing home.

There are several risk factors that increase the risk of acquiring an HCAI. One of these is the length of stay—a long hospital stay can increase the risk of infection. To reduce this risk, hospitals can focus on reducing the duration of hospital stays by implementing efficient treatment plans. Patients can also take steps to reduce their length of stay by maintaining a healthy weight, managing pre-existing conditions, and stopping smoking before their hospital admission.

Another risk factor is surgical procedures. The length and type of surgery can increase the risk of infection. Hospitals can reduce this risk by minimising the length of surgical procedures where possible and ensuring that surgical equipment is sterile. Patients can also advocate for themselves by asking healthcare professionals why a specific treatment is recommended, what the risks are, and when it can be removed.

Invasive procedures, such as the insertion of urinary catheters, IV cannulas, and respiratory equipment, can also introduce infections. Hospitals can reduce this risk by only inserting these devices when absolutely necessary and by following strict infection control procedures.

Frequently asked questions