Infection Control: Hospital Acquired Infections in New Zealand

This report provides an overview of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as nosocomial infections, focusing on their modes of transmission and evidence-based infection control guidelines implemented in New Zealand. It identifies common microbes such as Clostridium difficile and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and highlights direct contact as a primary mode of transmission, emphasizing the role of healthcare workers and hand hygiene. The report discusses New Zealand's Hand Hygiene Implementation Guidelines and catheter-associated urinary tract infection bundles as key control measures. It also touches upon international guidelines, antimicrobial stewardship, and the importance of isolating infected patients and disinfecting hospital rooms. The conclusion reiterates that addressing HAIs is crucial for reducing economic burden and mortality rates, advocating for the consistent application of evidence-based infection control methods.

Running head: HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION
Hospital acquired infection
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction:
Nosocomial infection or hospital-acquired infection are those infection acquired in a
hospital or health care services are that infection that appears in the hospital unit within 48 hours
or after admission (Poorabbas et al., 2015). Most of the hospital-acquired infection is caused due
to the contribution of microbes present in the hospital equipment, infected health works or even
patient (Choi et al., 2015). Therefore, this paper will illustrate the mode of transmission of the
infection and evidence-based infection control guidelines used in New Zealand and
internationally in the following paragraphs.
Discussion:
Mode of transmission and associated risks:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), the most common
microbes for nosocomial infection involve Clostridium difficile, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella. The most important and frequent
mode of transmission is direct contact. A study by Hinduja et al. (2015), suggested that health
workers are in direct contact with a patient and therefore act as a channel of transmission if they
have poor hand hygiene. Furthermore, health workers might harbor microorganisms that
transmitted to other patients during their hospitalization. According to Lax and Gilbert (2015),
hospital staffs may transmit the nosocomial infections if they are not practicing right infection
prevention methods. Drop transmission is another source of transmission where droplet-
containing microbes travels short distance through the air to infect the patient during sneezing,
coughing and talking of another person (Trivic & Hojsak, 2018). Airborne droplet nuclei is an
effective source of transmission, mostly transmits mycobacterium, Legionella. Common vehicle
transmission also observed through the contaminated food, water, medicines and device to the

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host (Murthy et al., 2016). Hence, it can be stated that the most notable risk factors to acquire
nosocomial infection in the health care scenario include direct contact with the patient, not
following the five moments of hand hygiene, not wearing personal protective equipment or PEP,
faulty sanitation or infection control protocol for equipment and supplies used for patients.
Evidence-based infection control guidelines used in New Zealand:
Since the prevalence of nosocomial infection is higher in New Zealand and lead to more
deaths due to lack of knowledge, The Hand Hygiene New Zealand Implementation Guidelines
were implemented within district board health for ensuring patient safety and provision of health
within a defined geographical area. Since the urinary tract infection is common in New Zealand,
the majority of the guidelines follow few control practices for reducing infection. Hand hygiene
is the crucial part of controlling any nosocomial infection including UTI. For controlling UTI,
the catheter-associated urinary tract infection bundle must use which ensures the catheter
insertion is done in a sterile way (Trubiano et al., 2016). According to Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (2012), every healthcare staff must follow normal hand hygiene before treating
the patient and after treating the patient. The infected patient should be isolated from preventing
the infection. Antimicrobial stewardship would foresee proved to be successful treatment for
reducing the prevalence of nosocomial infections (Hall et al., 2015). According to the center of
disease control and prevention, international guidelines for infection control include the practice
of hand hygiene, gloves and a change of gloves after infection, which ensures no contamination.
Lastly, each hospital rooms should be disinfected for avoiding any transmission of microbes
(Britton et al., 2015).
Conclusion:

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Thus, it can be concluded that the prevalence of nosocomial infection increases the
economic burden of the hospital and mortality rate. The most common mode of transmission is
direct contact with the patient. Therefore, by following the guidelines of New Zealand infection
can be controlled using the evidence-based method.

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