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• HAI is healthcare associated infection. It means an infection that has been contracted when receiving medical treatment at any healthcare facility (hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home)

  Nosocomial infection ares infections that remain for upto 48hrs after admission.
• MRSA – it is usually found in the nasal cavity and on the skin without causing any infection in 30% of healthy individuals. The heart, bone and bloodstream will be affected by the infection if there is an opening on the skin. These infections will lead to boils and pimples.

  Most strains respond to penicillin based antibiotics. However it is spread through physical contact (healthcare to worker) if hands are not washed and contaminated surfaces.
• MRSA is resistant to penicillin based antibiotics. This makes treatment hard as there are limited options. Patient have an increased risk in contracting MRSA if they have any catheters, drips, drains or an open wound as well as people who are immuno compromised. This also is applied to patients with chronic problems like cancer, diabetes, vascular dieases.
• MRSA symptoms – it depends on the infected area. Wound infections may appear red and tender. MRSA induced pneumonia may lead to a cough. Community associated MRSA can mimic insect bites but cause skin infections like boils, absecess and cellulitis. If MRSA is diagnosed in a hospital that person is isolated.
• VRE – vanocmycin resistant enterococci – this enterococci is present in the intestine and skin. Whereas the VRE is a type of enterococci that is resistant to antibiotics especially vancomycin.

  People who are immunocompromised are at greater risk of VRE as they cause severe infections.

  Common areas are intestines, urinary tract and wounds.
• VRE symptoms – it also depends on the site of infection. Wound infection leads to redness and tenderness at the site. UTI leads to back pain and frequent urination as well as burning sensation when peeing.

  Other symtoms could be fever, weakness, diarrhea and vomiting.
• HAI risk factors – have 3 categories. Patient characteristic, organizational factors, medical procedures and antibiotic use

  The rate at which HAI is contracted can also be influenced by the interaction of the healthcare system and healthcare providers.

  The physcal determinants – transmission between the patient and healthcare worker, complications after surgery and medical device maintenance (catheters).

  Other issues that increase HAI are – disproportionate nurse to patient ratio, physical layout of healthcare facility and contaminated AC system.
• Ways to combat HAI – increase education and training to adopt best practices of prevent HAI’s.

  Minimize risk factors

  Increase hygiene control procedure in outpatient clinic. Examples are excellent sterilization and disinfection procedures, single-use medication vials and one use syringes.