Impact of Hospital-Acquired Infections (Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay)

Impact of Hospital-Acquired Infections
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Impact of Hospital-Acquired Infections
Also referred to as nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are infections that patients develop during their stay at the hospital or other healthcare facilities. They are caused by bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens and the most common types of HAIs are central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), hospital-acquired pneumonia, surgical site infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), among others (Monegro, Muppidi, & Regunath, 2020). Certain patients are at a higher risk of developing HAIs than others. These patients include older patients, patients with weak immune systems, those with chronic conditions, as well as those who have stayed longer in hospitals, among others (Monegro, Muppidi, & Regunath, 2020). HAIs are a global issue that not only affects specific healthcare organizations but the overall healthcare system. According to Khan, Baig, and Mehboob, (2017) seven and ten out a hundred patients in developed and developing countries, respectively, develop HAIs. HAIs threaten patient safety and prolong hospital stays. As a result, close monitoring and active prevention practices are required to ensure that patients are protected.
Cleveland Clinic is not an exception when it comes to HAIs. The organization’s leaders have put in place strategies to address HAIs, but there remains a lot to be done to eliminate HAIs. In 2015, the rate of HAIs at the organization was 2.45 and has reduced to 0.57 in 2018 (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). This reduction means that more patients have been protected from longer hospital stays and patient safety has improved. However, improvements in this area seem to have flattened (Cleveland Clinic, 2019). A consultation with one of the hospital’s leaders revealed that treating an HAI costs the hospital at least $800 per patient. Besides, the hospital has lost money in the tune of millions in lawsuits following the death of a patient after they developed an HAI. These are funds that could be invested in other areas such as hiring more healthcare workers and improving the quality of care.
Article Summary
A recent case study conducted by Shelley (2018) examined how a specific organization is addressing HAIs. The study first pointed out the threat posed by HAIs n organizations. This threat manifests in terms of financial, ethical, legal, and regulatory risks as well as a decline in patient safety. The study revealed that understanding the root causes of HAIs through the establishment of an inter-professional HAI workgroup is critical in addressing HAIs. Also, following the improvement guidelines provided by the Institute for Healthcare is imperative in eliminating HAIs. The study concluded that for organizations to improve their reputation and become providers of quality healthcare, they need to continuously improve their efforts in addressing HAIs.
Another study by Harris, Pineles, and Perencevich (2016) assessed how infection prevention can address HAIs and specifically, antimicrobial resistance. The study revealed that for every ten patients admitted to a hospital in the USA, two ends up developing HAIs which contribute...