Nosocomial Infection

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Nosocomial infections
Nosocomial Infections 4 Running Head: NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS Nosocomial infections.
Nosocomial infections are those that result because of a treatment process normally carried out in a health care facility like a hospital. Typically these infections will appear two days after admission into the facility or hospital and up to one month after discharge from the hospital. Nosocomial infections are also known as health care associated infections or hospital acquired infections. These infections are not genetic in nature. They are typically caused by a pathogenic organism that may invade the body and cause that particular type of infection. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US puts firth estimates on infections at about 2 million resulting into 100,000 deaths annually. In Europe nosocomial infections account for two thirds of the 25,000 deaths annually. Typically nosocomial infections result in blood stream infections, urinary tract infections and severe pneumonia. Most of these resulting infections have been known to exhibit antibiotic treatment resistance. The bacteria strains behind these infections are quickly evolving into Gram negative bacteria which is typically infecting people outside the health care facility. These health care associated infections being widely prevalent are now being considered as important contributors of mortality and morbidity. They are continuing to increasingly attract attention due to the fact that increasing populations resulting in crowding, increased bacterial resistance especially to antibiotics, new strains of microorganisms and impaired immunity due to age, treatments and illness. Nosocomial infections continue to attract concerted focus. For developing countries these infections have become a major cause of preventable disease and death. The infections of concern and focus in this bracket include diarrhea,...