Abstract

NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AND THE ROLE OF INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE IN THEIR PREVENTION

Sai Kiran Polamarasetti*, Uma Sankar Viriti, Swarna Latha Surakala, Sumanjali Podugu and Sai Satya Divya Sanamunati

Abstract

Nosocomial Infections or Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) are sometimes life threatening infections which occur to a patient in a hospital or other healthcare facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. These infections are a major source of morbidity, mortality and also monetary burden on patients. Studies have shown that HAI prevalence varies from 3.8% to 18.6% depending on the population surveyed. UTI is the most commonly occurring Nosocomial infections which occupies of about 29.9% of total HAI. Duration of hospital stay and Immune deficiencies are the main reason for Nosocomial infections. Main organisms responsible are Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile. Infection control committee is group of hospital health care professionals composed of infection control personnel, with medical, nursing, administrative and occasionally dietary and housekeeping department representatives, who plan and supervise infection control activities. A well-organized Hospital Infection Control Committees (HICC) and Pharmacist benefits hospitals by improving quality, lowering costs and most important in reducing patient morbidity, mortality and there by plays one of the important role in the prevention of Nosocomial infections. Functions include planning, monitoring, evaluating, updating and educating the patients and health care professionals, prevention of infection in staff members, protecting patients with appropriate use of prophylactic antimicrobials, nutrition and vaccination. Clinical pharmacist has to educate and counsel regarding the harmful effects and care to be taken to prevent Nosocomial Infections to the patients and medical staff in the hospital.

Keywords: Nosocomial Infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Antimicrobials.