What causes hospital-acquired infections?
Most infections that develop after 48 hours in the hospital are considered to be hospital-acquired. These infections are also known as “Heath Care Associated Infections” (HAI) and “Nosocomial Infections.” Even if a patient develops an infection after discharge from the hospital, it is possible that the germs that caused the infection were picked up in the hospital. Within hours of admission to a hospital, colonies of hospital bacteria/germs develop on the patient’s skin, and in the lungs and urinary tract. There are three types of hospital infection risks: 1. Infections caused by germs on the hands of medical staff, or that are on tubes and other devices that are inserted into the patient. Also, the overuse of antibiotics while the patient is hospitalized can lead to infections of bacteria that are immune to weaker antibiotics. These are also known as “iatrogenic” risk factors. 2. Organizational risk factors include contaminated air conditioning systems, contaminated water systems, ove
