Health experts have called for more proactive actions against hospital-acquired infections, noting that patients and health workers must begin to embrace precautionary measures to avoid these preventable health conditions linked to health facilities.
Hospital-acquired infections, they said should be taken seriously because they could lead to life-threatening situations and even cause death when not promptly diagnosed and properly managed.
Hospital-acquired infections are infections that patients get while receiving treatment at a healthcare facility, like a hospital, or from a healthcare professional, like a doctor or nurse.
These infections, the experts said, are a subset of infectious diseases acquired in healthcare facilities and are also referred to as healthcare-associated infections.
According to the experts, an infection is considered to be a hospital-acquired infection when it develops at least 48 hours after admission.
Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise in an interview, a public health physician, Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor explained that when infection prevention and control methods are not appropriately followed in health facilities, patients could get infected with a multi-resistant strain of bacteria and may even die from such.
He said, “Hospitals are fertile grounds for infections. Therefore, when procedures are not done using excellent infection prevention and control methods, the risk of hospital-acquired infection in patients increases.
“An immune-compromised patient may acquire a multi-resistant strain of bacteria. This is an emergency and if not treated promptly may lead to amputations of body parts or even death.”
The most susceptible age groups to hospital-acquired infections, Nsofor said, are the young, the elderly, and individuals whose immunities are already compromised, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, cancers, and others.
Nsofor who is a senior New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute urged health workers in Nigerian hospitals and patients to adopt precautionary measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
He said, “Hospitals should be the cleanest places in our communities. This starts with having excellent infection prevention and control protocols that all health workers understand and implement.
“Patients and their relations must also observe all infection prevention and control protocols put in paces by hospitals.”
He lamented the lack of clean water in Nigerian hospitals, noting that it is a major challenge to good hygiene practices in healthcare settings.
Nsofor said, “Very few hospitals in Nigeria have clean running water on their premises, how can one prevent hospital-acquired infections if there is no clean water.”
The public health expert urged federal, state, and local governments to develop standard operating manuals for hospitals within their jurisdiction.
