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2: Hospital‐acquired infections
Author(s) -
Spelman Denis W
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04412.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , infection control , antibiotic resistance , antibiotics , antimicrobial , respiratory tract infections , microbiology and biotechnology , respiratory system , biology
About 6% of patients acquire an infection in hospital, and the incidence of hospital‐acquired infections may be increasing. Common hospital‐acquired infections are respiratory and urinary tract infections, surgical wound infections and infections associated with intravascular cannulas. The common hospital pathogens are methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus , antibiotic‐resistant gram‐negative bacilli and, more recently, vancomycin‐resistant enterococci. Surveillance is the cornerstone of effective infection control and prevention of hospital‐acquired infections. Strategies to prevent both development of antibiotic resistance and spread of resistant organisms are necessary. Preventive strategies include prudent antimicrobial use, timely handwashing, aseptic technique, short hospital stays, minimal use and early removal of invasive devices, adequate staffing and an active infection control program. Sound infection control practice and prudent antibiotic use will reduce antimicrobial‐resistant organisms and hospital‐acquired infections