The Risk Factors That Are Related to Healthcare-Associated Infections

Introduction

Health care-associated conditions are diseases that are contracted by patients while getting treatments regarding medical and surgical related healthcare services. These infections are not present during the time of hospitalization; this indicates that they are acquired during or after the hospitalization. However, they can be prevented though the use of various healthcare approaches and procedures. This involves the use of devices to prevent the infections in patients on ventilators and/or catheters. In this case, this paper will bring forth a summary of the topic and critically assess it.

Summary of the Question

Healthcare-associated infections also known as nosocomial or hospital-related infection refers to an infection which occurs in patients during the period of hospitalization within the healthcare facility, which was not present in the patients during the time of their admission. Healthcare-related infections can impact on patients’ nature of setting in which they are receiving healthcare services. They affect both adult and pediatric patients. Despite that these infections occur within the hospital setting, they can also appear after the patients have been discharged. In fact, they are not limited to hospital settings; they also include occupational infections among the employees or staff. This type of infections symbolize the most prevalent event during care delivery, and yet the problem remains unsolved in several healthcare settings across the world (Thibault et al., 2015). This is a serious problem that needs immediate care. This is because data that has been presented from various states reveals that about hundred million of patients worldwide are affected by HCAIs yearly. Among the healthcare-related infections are infections at the sites of surgery (SSI), ventilator related Pneumonia, catheter related infections of the urinary tract commonly referred as CAUTIs  as well as the  central line related bloodstream infections. There several risk factors that are associated with HCAIs as it has been revealed by the researches that have been conducted in the attempt to solve the problem (Patel, 2018). Among the many risk factors, having a central line has been found to be the main risk factor of contracting the nosocomial infections during the period of hospital stay.  The other risk factors include transfers from one hospital to another, the presence of skin problems, and having a urinary catheter. Additionally, the burden of healthcare-related infections has been significantly experienced highly in low and middle-income sates as compared to high-income nations.

Carrying out this research about the risk factors that are related to Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), many journals contained information regarding healthcare problems. This was the data that was stored in many databases of several healthcare systems. Researching specifically about the HCAIs, I retrieved information regarding the infections which included CLABSI, SSI, VAP, and CAUTIs. Getting to understand the various infections including the bacteria which causes them and their outcomes and impacts I got knowledge about the infections (Kyratsis, Ahmad, & Holmes, 2010). Finally, the understanding of how the researches are helpful to the healthcare practice is what referred to as continuum wisdom is because its application results in the meaningful impact on healthcare services.

Different keywords and databases would be used to accomplish this research. Among the keywords include  HCAIs, central line-related infections of the bloodstream, catheter devices, catheter-related infections of the urinary tract and ventilator-related infections, hospitalization and nosocomial infections (Thibault et al., 2015). Freely existing databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were used to research for the healthcare information.

It is important to be informed about certain life relating issues in the society. In particular, healthcare related issues. In this case, the information I obtained from this research would be useful ways.  Firstly, getting informed about the healthcare-associated infections is helpful on a personal level and the community at large. I can use the derived information to practice preventive measures against the HCAIs at a personal level. Additionally, I can use the information or knowledge to educate the community members about HCAIs to maintain healthy lifestyles (Leaper, 2010). This is important because it informs them about the cost-related impacts of contracting the HCAIs, and the resultant healthcare outcome.

Informatics can be used to gain wisdom. This is because it involves processing of data for storage and retrieval. In this case, research can be conducted in the processed and stored data for retrieval. In doing this, an individual is gaining information. Conducting research, on the specific topic of interest, useful information is obtained. Critically analyzing and assessing the information obtained gives a clear understanding of the topic. In this case, a person comprehends the topic well to the extent of being in a position of making decisions that were obtained. In the case of my research, I would study the obtained information, analyze it and assess its suitability and significances to the healthcare benefits of the society. After the examining and understanding, I would have attained wisdom to make decisions about the obtained information (Macdonald, 2008). For instance, I have understood the various types of HCAIs and their impacts as well as risk factors.  In this case, deciding to practice healthy lifestyles and inform the community is wisdom gained through the obtained information.