The Risk of Catching Infections in Hospitals: Why It Happens and How to Protect Yourself

this Hospital Their purpose is to provide care and treatment for people with different health problems.but Patients may also be at risk of infection This was something he didn’t have before he was hospitalized.

The risk level does not always have to be high if measures are taken It has been scientifically proven to serve preventive purposes.

A few days ago, the Argentine actress and model, Sylvana Moon, Won coronavirus while she was hospitalized Renal insufficiency and other health problems.He had previously suffered another bacterial infection Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is waiting transplant Not yet done.

In 2010, another case attracted attention. Sandroa singer known for the song “pink roses’, had a transplant and was later infected with bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii In a hospital facility.

yes Bacteria, viruses or fungi that spread in the hospital and led to today’s so-called “healthcare-associated infection“.

A research team is working on United States, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Brazil analyzed What factors increase the risk of hospital death? exist Latin America Their research was published in the journal Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health.

“Before doing this study, we had done other studies that found that the average death rate in Latin American hospitals was only 17 percent if hospitalized patients didn’t develop nosocomial infections,” he told us. database argentine doctor Victor RosenthalFounder and President International Hospital Infection Control Scientific Community and lead author of the study.

“By comparison, when hospitalized patients are infected, the mortality rate is 30%. When they are infected twice, this rises to 40%. If a patient is infected three times, the mortality rate can reach 63%,” he added .

The scientific team conducted a prospective study in 198 intensive care units of 96 hospitals across the country 12 Latin American countries. These include more than 71,000 patients admitted to intensive care between 1998 and 2022. Together, they spent more than 652,000 days in hospital.

What factors increase the risk of hospital death

During the study period, 4,700 patients infected in hospitals, 10,890 dead. After analyzing the data, the researchers noted that some of the risk factors for hospital death included the socioeconomic level of the country, type of hospital (public, private, or nonprofit), type of hospitalization, type of hospitalization, and others. Intensive care unit and age of each patient.

There are other factors that are easier to modify, the authors say. “Based on our research – Rosenthal explained – we found that Hospital infection rate is a factor in mortality, but this can be changed. Therefore, efforts should be made to reduce the number of days that patients are on central or bladder catheters and mechanical ventilators.”

Chance to lower interest rates ventilator-associated pneumonia or a urinary tract infection associated with catheter use. In other words, there is a lot we can do beyond the fact that patients in developing countries have more opportunities to suffer from nosocomial infections. This is not an unstoppable situation.

“When you are admitted to the hospital or a family member is hospitalized, not only do you have to worry about washing your hands frequently, but you also have to take into account the Device use increases risk of nosocomial infection”” said the expert.

Daily patient use of each device was associated with a 3% and 4% increase in mortality.. “Our findings do not mean that these devices should not be used. The message is that there is a need for an in-depth assessment of when and for how long it needs to be used”, clarifies Rosenthal.

In addition, he stressed, “there are specific measures for the management of equipment to prevent patients from acquiring nosocomial infections”.

Infection rates varied among patients admitted to intensive care units. In Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, the proportion is less than 5%. On the other hand, in Argentina, the infection rate in intensive care units has reached 32%, according to the 2017 plan of the Argentine Ministry of Health. In the U.S., it’s 2 percent.

Another Study – Published in 2020 Cambridge University Press– Conducted by medical researchers Wanda Kornistein, Christina Floyle and Maria Ines Staloniwait. Among them, there is a difference between the ratio of hospitals that declare voluntarily and the three private institutions that have this accreditation. Joint International Committee.

“Since we published this article, progress has been made in the generation of voluntary reporting infection control committees in hospitals. This is a path that has already begun, and it is important that infection prevention programs be maintained and optimized by all institutions in our nation.” Stein Loni said during the consultation. database.

Combining infection control programs with programs to optimize antimicrobial use can reduce hospital infections by 60 percent and antimicrobial resistance by 66 percent, says association co-founder and expert Antimicrobial Resistance Research (INVERA).

How to prevent nosocomial infection

Nosocomial infections are not just a problem for health professionals. Patients, family members and entire communities can also do a lot for prevention as part of the human right to health.

“Patients can participate in infection control programs, such as hand hygiene activities. You can encourage staff who assist them to wash their hands,” Stanloni said.

People can also ask if nearby hospitals have an infection control program. “It’s part of health and it’s everyone’s right,” he said.

this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of USA They also offer the following advice to protect yourself:

– The doctor must be informed if he has been hospitalized in other centers at home or abroad or if he has recently suffered an infection.

– Ask what they will do in the hospital to prevent antibiotic-resistant infections.

– If the patient has a catheter, you can ask daily when it can be removed.

– If you are having surgery, you can ask how to prevent infection and how to prepare for surgery to reduce risk.

– have them clean your room while you’re in the hospital, even if you don’t feel well

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