By: Mahaboobsaheb Ganjal and Rajesh G Konnur
Hospital-acquired infections significantly impede patient care, leading to heightened medical costs and straining healthcare resources. These nosocomial infections are a critical concern globally, with approximately 1.4 million people worldwide suffering from them at any moment. Research suggests that around 10% of patients admitted to hospitals are likely to contract some form of infection during their stay, highlighting the particular challenge of hospital-acquired infections in developing nations where the prevalence can reach 30–50%. Such infections contribute to significant morbidity and are believed to be responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. Studies by Koch et al. have identified a greater mortality risk among patients with hospital-acquired infections both within 30 days and over a year, compared to those uninfected. The primary mode of transmission is through the contaminated hands of healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff. The spread of these infections mainly occurs when healthcare workers transfer pathogens between patients, often due to neglecting hand hygiene or failing to adhere to basic hospital cleanliness protocols. The study was found necessary to intervene and get insights about problems of healthcare-associated disease and complications that arise due to inadequate infection control practices, thereby finding an appropriate solution for the occupational safety of the employees, which focuses on improving the clinical services and well-being of patients and healthcare providers.
Keywords: Hospital-acquired infections, patients, nosocomial infections, healthcare workers
Citation:
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