Response on HAIs

The Body

Thank you for sharing this great post on Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs). I share your concerns on the negative effects of the HAIs on the quality of care give to the patients. You have highlighted the different types of HAIs, outlining some of the pathophysiological factors that are involved as pointed out by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). I would, however, like you to expound more on the surgical site infections (SSIs). Why do you think SSIs are more prevalent in some healthcare facilities more than others? Is there a correlation between the age of an individual and their susceptibility to SSIs? Do you think that individuals with immune disorders such as autoimmune infections are more susceptible to SSIs? If so, how can a healthcare facility ensure that the vulnerable populations are protected from the HAIs?

My concern about the SSIs is based on past experiences. I worked as an intern in a healthcare setting and realized that the wound-healing time for patients post-surgery varied a lot. In many instances, the young adults and adolescents seemed to heal faster than the elderly persons. As a result, I thought that the state of one’s immunity could play a role in wound healing. It is generally hypothesized that children and elderly persons have underdeveloped immune systems hence are more susceptible to infections (Simon, Hollander & McMichael, 2015). I also realized that elderly patients who undergo surgery are more likely to experience septic shock compared to the younger surgical patients. Therefore, I believe there should be differential care for surgical patients based on their ages to prevent sepsis which is directly a result of HAIs. Besides, prolonged wound healing as a result of the SSIs could increase the cost of care hence an economic burden on the patients and their families.