Healthcare-Associated Infections
What are healthcare-associated infections?
HAIs are infections that patients develop while getting treatment for other health conditions or shortly after receiving healthcare. They are a major threat to patient safety and increase healthcare costs by billions of dollars each year. According to CDC, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAI on any given day. They can cause serious complications, including death, but HAIs are usually preventable. HAIs are becoming increasingly difficult to treat as they can be resistant to antimicrobials, also known as antimicrobial resistance (AR).
Are healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance connected?
Yes, HAIs and AR are very connected. However, it is important to note that they are not the same. HAIs can be and are often caused by AR germs, but not always. Additionally, there are many AR germs that usually cause HAIs, such as Candida auris, but there are some AR germs that can cause infections in the community, such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Who can get healthcare-associated infections?
Anyone can get an HAI, but certain factors can increase a patient’s risk. Patients with weakened immune systems are at highest risk. A weakened immune system may be caused by:
- Underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, or recent organ transplants.
- Taking certain medications such as antibiotics, steroids, or cancer fighting medications.
- Advanced age.
- Lifestyle factors, such as smoking.
In addition to a weakened immune system, certain medical treatments or procedures that are used in healthcare can also increase a person’s risk for an HAI. Urinary catheters, tubes, and surgeries introduce new ways that germs can enter the body and increase infection risk.
How do healthcare-associated infections spread?
HAIs can spread similarly to the germs you can get in everyday life, including through contaminated surfaces, unclean hands, and through the air. HAIs are most commonly spread through the hands of patients, providers, and visitors, and improper use of medical equipment.
What are my healthcare providers doing to prevent healthcare-associated infections?
Your healthcare providers follow a variety of infection prevention and control measures to help prevent HAIs. All patient encounters should involve basic infection control practices such as hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and equipment. Some HAIs that spread more easily may require increased infection control measures. Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be worn by healthcare providers when treating patients with certain HAIs. Gloves and gowns may be worn when treating patients with HAIs that are more easily spread through direct contact. Additional PPE, such as masks and eye protection, may be worn when treating patients with HAIs that are easily spread through respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Healthcare providers treating patients with HAIs that are easily transmitted through the air may wear respirators and may put patients in isolation.
How can I protect myself or my family from healthcare-associated infections?
There are several things you can do to Be a Safe Patient and help prevent getting or spreading an HAI:
- Speak Up and have open communication with your healthcare provider:
- Tell your provider about any recent healthcare you have received.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you have, including if you think you have an infection.
- Be Antibiotics Aware and take all antibiotics exactly as prescribed to help prevent antimicrobial resistance.
- Practice good hand hygiene. Clean hands are the first defense against infections that everyone can partake in. Hand hygiene protects you, your family, and those providing your care.
- Allow hospital staff to clean your hospital room. A clean environment is essential to reducing HAIs.
Know your risk of infection and take care of your health.
- Understand your risk and talk to your healthcare provider to help you understand what additional precautions you may need to take.
- Keep any cuts clean and covered until they are healed.
- Take care of any chronic conditions you may have, such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease.
- Use the same precautions you take every day for other types of illness, such as covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
What questions should I ask my healthcare providers?
- While you are receiving healthcare, ask “What steps are you taking to protect me from infection?” This can help improve the trust you have that your provider is using proper infection control practices to keep you safe.
- If you don’t see your healthcare provider wash their hands or use hand sanitizer, ask “Can you use proper hand hygiene during my treatment?” This can help remind your provider to wash their hands.
- If you have a worsening infection, ask “Could I have sepsis?” This can prompt your provider to run additional tests.
- If you have a urinary catheter or central line, ask “When will this be removed?” This can help remind your provider that keeping a catheter in too long can increase your chance of infection.
- When your healthcare provider is conducting a procedure, ask “Will there be a new needle, new syringe, and a new vial for this procedure or injection?” This will help ensure that clean equipment is being used for your procedure.