Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections: epidemiological surveillance, issues and perspectives

Abstract

Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, which implies the infections formed in medical institutions, constitutes financial burden for healthcare of developing and developed countries as well. Nosocomial infection is the cause of prolonged hospitalization and increased prevalence of mortality. Hundreds of million people get ill yearly with nosocomial diseases in the world. Newborns are among them. Infections inside the hospital pose a health risk to medical staff. The cause of formation of nosocomial infections are bacteria, viruses and fungus. According to statistics of World Health Organization, only 15% of hospitalized patients have nosocomial infections (Health care-associated infections, FACT SHEET, 2010, 06.06.2020). In case of exogenous infections, the bacteria provoking the disease comes into the patient from environment, medical staff and infected patients. Mainly it is revealed through infections of blood vessels, catheter-associated infections, urinary infections, also through infections caused by surgical intervention and artificial ventilation. The rate of nosocomial infections are significantly high in countries with low and average income comparing to countries with high income. The events related to management of nosocomial diseases are expressed in efficient methods of prevention of these infections and into their epidemic supervision.