The Contribution Of Nursing And Laboratory Practices In Preventing Healthcare Associated Infection

Abstract

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are the most important source of morbidity and mortality as well as are the second popular reason for death. Moreover, it was recorded that every one-hundred patients went to hospital, seven patients in high-income economies and ten in low-income economies infected with one type of HCAI at least. Nowadays, most pathogenic agents become resistant against antimicrobial drugs; on the other hand very little new antimicrobial drugs are being recognized and recorded in market.

Objective: This review provides an update on Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) beside infection prevention and control as well as general principles and microbiology laboratory role  

Methods: The literature was performed by searching on PubMed, Cochrane database, different online Journals and Google Scholar provided by the University Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) The N[1]ational Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, and Tobago. for relevant articles on HCAIs. Preferred reporting items of systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed for selection.

Results:

More than the half of 35 acceptable articles, reported that Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcusaureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp. were the famous infectious microorganisms recorded in both bloodstream and urinary tract infection including catheter-associated infections, surgical site infection and healthcare-associated pneumonia. Add to this methicillin-resistant S. aureus represent (3.9% - 56.8%) however Gram-negative bacilli which produce broad-spectrum beta-lactamase represent (1.9% - 53.0%) considered the major antimicrobial resistant pathogens.

However hand hygiene considered an old method, but remain the first technique applied to control HCAIs in all the world. It represents one of the steps used to clean and maintain a safe hospital environment and to control the transmission of contagious and infectious pathogens which have resistance against several antimicrobial drugs. Finally, antibiotic also play a critical function in decreasing HCAIs potential by conserving available antimicrobials.