Nosocomial Infection Causes

Nosocomial infections, which are also referred to as hospital-acquired infections, are a common cause of complications in people who have been hospitalized. Nosocomial infections can occur in people of any age, from newborns to the elderly, no matter what the reason for the initial hospital stay was, although people with poorly functioning immune systems may be more likely to get these infections. Consider this information derived from the National Library of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control about the causes of nosocomial infections.

Breathing Machines

• People who are in the hospital and using breathing machines such as ventilators may get nosocomial infections such as pneumonia (see References). The breathing machines can become contaminated with germs, especially when handled by medical staff who do not use the proper infection control procedures. People on breathing machines may also be unable to cough and expel germs from their lungs, which is another cause of nosocomial infections.

Catheters

• Catheters are a medical device used to remove urine from hospital patients who are unable to use a toilet. Catheters are a common cause of urinary tract infections that occur during a hospital stay (see References). Urinary tract infections result when the catheter becomes contaminated by medical staff during insertion or is not properly maintained while in use.

Improper Hygiene

• Visitors and staff at hospitals can infect patients with diseases such as pneumonia and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a result of improper hygiene (see References). Doctors and nurses who forget to wash their hands before conducting an exam of a patient can spread MRSA among hospitalized people. Visitors who have respiratory illnesses and sneeze into the air or their hands can spread their germs as well.

Injections

• Hospital staff who do not properly give injections may cause nosocomial infections in patients (see References). Infections such as hepatitis B, C and HIV can be spread through sharing of syringes that touch contaminated blood. Patients may receive medications into their intravenous lines by staff who do not change syringes between patients, which is another way to spread infections.

Surgery

• People in the hospital for surgical procedures may develop nosocomial infections (see References). If incisions tear or are not properly bandaged, they can become contaminated with bacteria from the skin. Surgical equipment can also be contaminated and introduce bacteria into the patient's body, resulting in infections.

Transplants

• Although less common today than in the past, certain procedures such as transplants and transfusions can result in nosocomial infections (see References). Illnesses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis can be spread through bone and tissue grafts. Nosocomial infections can also be spread through blood transfusions, organ and skin transplants.