Nosocomial infections: increased risks for immuno-compromised and covid-19 patients
- Vol.53(2), Feb
- Mumbai Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 2021
- 17-18p.
Nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired), especially Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), that lead to post-operative complications and hence increased length of stay and hospital costs are one of the primary causes of hospital deaths globally. It has been reported that operating theatres and surgical wards including fomites are contaminated with microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Some of the potential sources identified for most life-threatening nosocomial infections include contamination of operating theatres via unfiltered air, ventilation, exogenous medical staff and personnel movements. The estimation of the quantity and types of airborne microorganisms relates to the environment cleanliness, human health risk and potential source of infections. For example, the presence of fungi indicates that outside air enters the theatre. Consequently, a linear relationship has been established between air counts of microbes in operating rooms and surgical site infection/sepsis rate. Furthermore, nosocomial skin flora of patients and staff (microbial shedding) provides yet another source. Bacteria on skin layers, lint and other dusts enter the operating theatre and might deposit on the surface. Owing to its heavy economic burden on the patient and health-care system, it is indispensable to strategize the reduction of SSI. This review thus attempts to draw the attention of the readers towards the seriousness and need to combat the hospital-acquired infections, which is often neglected.