The document discusses common nosocomial infections and methods for their prevention. It addresses the four most common types: urinary tract infections, surgical wound infections, pneumonia, and primary bloodstream infections. For each type, it identifies risk factors and effective prevention strategies. These include avoiding unnecessary urinary catheters, limiting catheter duration, proper surgical aseptic technique, and hand hygiene. It emphasizes the importance of handwashing before and after all patient contact and care to prevent transmission of infections between patients and staff.

2. PREVENTION OF COMMON ENDEMIC
NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS
Mr. Jithin Raj
Hospital Infection Control Nurse
Padmavathy Medical Foundation

3. Nosocomial Infections:
NSI also called Hospital Acquired
Infection are infections acquired during
hospital care which are not present or
incubating at or incubating at admission.


Infections occurring more than 48 hrs
after admission are usually considered
nosocomial.

4. The four most nosocomial infections are:
 Urinary
Tract Infections
 Surgical wound Infections
 Pneumonia
 Primary blood stream infection

5. Urinary Tract Infections
 The
most frequent nosocomial infections
 80% of these infections are associated
with an indwelling urethral catheter

6. Interventions effective in preventing
nosocomial UTI;
Avoiding urethral catheterization unless there is a compelling indication
 Limiting the duration of drainage
 Maintaining aseptic practice during urinary catheter insertion and other
urological procedure
 Non – traumatic urethral insertion using an appropriate lubricant
 Maintaining a clossed drainage system


7. Sterile gloves for insertion

8. Perineal cleaning with an antiseptic solution prior
to insertion

9. Hygienic handwash / rub prior to the insertion and
following catheter drainage bag manipulation

10. Other practices which are recommended,
but not proven to decrease infection
include:
Maintaining good patient hydration
 Appropriate perineal hygiene for the patients with
catheters
 Appropriate staff training in catheter insertion and care
 Maintaining unobstructed drainage of the bladder to the
collection bag, with the bag below the level of the
bladder


11. Generally, the smallest diameter
catheter diameter should be used.
Catheter material (latex, silicone)
does not influence infection rates

12. For patients with a neurogenic bladder:


Avoid indwelling catheter if possible
If assisted bladder drainage is necessary, clean
intermittent urinary catheterization should be
used.

13. Surgical wound infections
(Surgical Site Infections)

14. Factors which influence the frequency of
surgical wound infection include:






Surgical technique
Extent of endogenous contamination of the
wound at surgery
(eg. Clean, clean – condaminated)
Duration of operation
Underlying patient status
Operating room environment
Organism shed by the operating room team

15. A systematic programme for prevention of
surgical wound infections includes with
the practice of optimal surgical technique
and;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Operating room environment
Operating room staff
Pre – intervention preparation of the patient
Antimicrobial prophylaxis
Surgical wound surveillance

16. 1. Operating room
environment

17. Recommended cleaning schedule:
 Every
morning before any intervention
 Between procedures
 At the end of the working day
 Once a week

18. 2. Operating room staff
Handwashing
Operating room attire
Operating room activity


19. 3. Pre – intervention
preparation of the patient

20. 4. Antimicrobial prophylaxis

Antibiotics must be initiated intravenously within
one hour prior to the intervention

In most cases, prophylaxis with a single
preoperative dose is sufficient

Administration of prophylactic antibiotics for a
longer period prior to the operation is
counterproductive, as there will be a risk of
infection by a resistant pathogen

21. “ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
APPROPRIATE ASEPTIC SURGICAL PRACTICE”

22. 5. Surgical wound
surveillance

23. NOSOCOMIAL RESPIRATORY
INFECTIONS

24. 
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP),
defined as pneumonia occurring >48 - 72
hours after endotracheal intubation, is the
most common and fatal nosocomial infection
of intensive care.

VAP is associated with increased mortality
and
morbidity,
increased
duration
of
mechanical ventilation, prolonged intensive
care unit and hospital stay, and increased
cost of hospitalisation.

25. Diagnosis (The Centers for Disease
Control Guidelines criteria)
Depends on a combination of;
 Clinical signs
 Impaired gas exchange,
 Radiological changes
 Positive microscopic analysis

26. Recommendations to prevent
these infections include;
VAP in the ICUs:




Appropriate disinfection and in-use care
of tubing, respirators, and humidifiers to
limit contamination
No routine changes of respiratory tubing
Avoid antacids and H2 blockers
Head up position

27. Sterile tracheal suctioning

28. Medical Units
Limit medications which impair
consciousness
 Position comatose patients to limit the
potential for aspiration
 Avoid oral feeds in patients with
swallowing abnormalities
 Prevent exposure of neutropenic or
transplant patients to fungal spores
during construction or renovation


29. Surgical units

All invasive devices used during anaesthesia must be
sterile

Anaesthetist must use gloves and masks when undertaking
invasive tracheal or venous or epidural care

Disposable filters (for individual use) for ET intubation
effectively prevent the transmission of microorganism
among patients by ventilators

Preoperative physiotherapy prevents postoperative
pneumonia in patients with chronic respiratory disease.

30. Neurological patients with tracheostomy
(with or without ventilation)
Sterile suctioning in appropriate frequency
 Appropriate cleaning and disinfection of
respiratory machines and other devices.
 Physiotherapy to assist with drainage of
secretions.


31. INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
INTRAVASCULAR LINES

32. Key practices for all vascular catheters includes;

Avoiding catheterization unless there is a medical indication

Maintaining a high level of asepsis for catheter insertion
and care

Limiting the use of catheters to as short a duration as
possible

Preparing fluids aseptically and immediately before use

Training of personnel in catheter insertion and care

33. Portal of entry for microorganisms in IV
System








During manufacture
Additives
Hairline cracks/ punctures
Bottle – tubing junction
Medication port
Stopcock
Insertion site
Secondary infection from other side

34. Interventions for –
Peripheral vascular catheters

Hands must be washed before all catheters care,
using hygienic handwash or rub

Wash and disinfect skin at the insertion site with an
antiseptic solution

IV line changes no more frequetly than changes after
the transfusion of blood or intralipids, and for
discontinuous perfusions

A dressing change is not normally necessary

If local infection or phlebitis occurs, the catheter
should be removed immediately

35. Central Vascular catheters

Clean the insertion site with an antiseptic solution

Do not apply solvents or antimicrobial ointment to the
insertion site

Mask, cap and sterile gloves and gown must be worn
for insertion

The introduction of the catheter and the subsequent
catheter dressings require a surgical handwash or rub

Follow appropriate aseptic care in accessing the
system, including disinfecting external surfaces of
hub and ports

36. 
Change of lines should normally not occur
more often than once every three days

Change of dressing at the time of the change
of lines, following surgical asepsis

Do not replace over a guide wire if infection
is suspected

Antimicrobial impregnated catheters may
decrease infection in high – risk patients with
short – term catheterization

37. Sterile gauze or transparent
dressing to cover the catheter site

38. An increase number of catheter lumen
may increase the risk of infection

39. Use the subclavion
site in preference
to jugular or
femoral sites

40. Consider using a peripherally
inserted central catheter, if
appropriate

41. Central vascular totally implanted catheters
Implantable vascular access devices should
be considered for patients who require
long – term therapy.

42. Preventive practices include;

A pre operative shower and implantation under surgical
conditions in an operating room

Local preparation includes washing and antisepsis with major
antiseptic solution as for other surgical procedures

All PPEs must be worn

Requires strict hand wash prior to procedure

Maintain a closed system during the use of the device.

A change of lines should normally occur every 5 days for
continuous use

43. Hand decontamination…..

44. IMPORTANCE OF HANDWASHING..

45. Compliance with handwashing, however, is
frequently sub optimal, due to;

Lack of accessible equipment

High staff – to – patient ratios

Allergies to handwashing products

Insufficient knowledge of staff about risks and
procedures

Too long a duration recommended for washing

46. Optimal hand hygiene requirements
For handwashing;
Running water
 Products
 Facilities for drying


47. For hand disinfection;
 Specific hand disinfectants

48. Procedures
Jewellary must be removed before
handwashing
 Simple hygienic procedures may limited to
hands and wrists
 Surgical procedures include the hand and
forearm


49. Routine care
(minimal)
Antiseptic
handcleaning
(moderate) –
aseptic care of
infected patients
Surgical scrub
(surgical care)
1 minute
3-5 minutes
With non – antiseptic
soap
With antiseptic soap
With antiseptic soap
Quick hygienic hand
disinfection
(by rubbing) with
alcoholic rub.
Quick hygienic hand
disinfection
(by rubbing) with
alcoholic rub.
Simple handwash and
drying followed by
two applications of
hand disinfectant,
then rub to dry

50. 5 MOMENTS OF HANDWASHING…

51. Steps of handwashing..