How to protect yourself from hospital-acquired infections

Hospital-acquired infections in India affect 10-20% of admitted patients, exacerbated by antibiotic misuse leading to resistant microbes.

One of the most challenging health problems to deal with is getting infected in the hospital. While hospital might be the farthest place you can get sick, but about 10 to 20% of admitted patients acquire infections in India.

What is worse, misuse of antibiotics for the treatment of these infections has further led to the development of resistance among microbes, leading to higher disease burden in hospitals.

Hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, are those infections that patients contract during their stay in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals or clinics, which were not present or incubating at the time of admission. These infections can be caused by both patients or healthcare workers.

Millions of patients are affected by it annually. According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) survey conducted in 55 hospitals across 14 countries showed an average of 8.7% of hospital patients had nosocomial infections.

At any time, over 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infectious complications acquired in hospital, as per the health agency.

In India, the burden of hospital-acquired infections is significant, with studies showing infection rates of 11-25% in intensive care units (ICUs).

Treating hospital-acquired infections leads to longer hospital stays, increased diagnostic testing, and more intensive treatments, such as the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The most common types of hospital-acquired infections include urinary tract infections (UTIs), surgical site infections, pneumonia like the ventilator-associated pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

According to a study in PLOS Medicine, India is among the countries that has the highest burden of hospital-associated resistant infections.

Infections caused by drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are common, with these pathogens showing resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents, leading to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

According to the study, there are 136 million hospital-acquired infections (HARIs) globally each year, with China (52 million), Pakistan (10 million), and India (9 million) experiencing the highest numbers.

Here are five key precautions to avoid hospital-acquired infections based on the Indian Council of Medical Research's Hospital Infection Control Guidelines:

• Hand Hygiene: Regular and thorough hand washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is crucial for preventing the spread of infection.
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wearing appropriate PPE such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection helps protect both healthcare workers and patients from potential infections1.
• Proper Sterilisation and Disinfection: Ensuring that all medical instruments and surfaces are properly sterilised and disinfected reduces the risk of infection transmission.
• Safe Injection Practices: Using sterile needles and syringes for each injection and properly disposing of them after use prevents infections related to needle stick injuries.
• Isolation of Infected Patients: Isolating patients with contagious infections in designated areas helps prevent the spread of infections to other patients and healthcare workers.