JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Nosocomial infections are healthcare infections incubating or not present at the time of admission to a hospital and manifest 48hours after admission with the elderly at higher risk due to frailty and immune suppression.

Objective:

Exploring the risk factors of nosocomial infections in hospitalised patients in the United Kingdom, population at risk of nosocomial infections, impacts associated with nosocomial infections and organisms associated with the spread of nosocomial infections.

Methods:

A comprehensive keyword search was conducted through PubMed, Medline, and EBSCO Cinahl plus databases to identify relevant articles to the research question. The articles were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria following the PRISMA guidelines. The review was based on Population Exposure Outcome guidelines and six studies were included after critical appraisal using CASP (cohort and case-control studies) and AXIS (cross-sectional studies). Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse data extracted on risk factors of nosocomial infections in hospitalised patients in the United Kingdom.

Results:

Nosocomial infections were primarily prevalent in elderly patients. The risk factors included: being elderly, Intra-hospital transfers, cross infection, longer hospital stay, readmissions, prior colonization with opportunistic organisms, comorbidities, prior intake of antibiotics and urinary catheters. Impacts were associated with more extended hospital stays presenting with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors suggested interventions to consider the timeframe before and after admission to control nosocomial infections. Measures included the use of single patient rooms, well-equipped wards, prior screening of staff and patients, adequate sick leave for staff, improved swallowing techniques and nutritional intake for patients, improved oral hygiene, avoiding unnecessary indwelling plastics, use of suprapubic catheters, asceptic techniques during patient care and prophylactic use.

Conclusions:

Findings are relevant to the National health service, whose priority is the control of nosocomial infections. There is a need for further studies whose findings will aid in implementing nosocomial infection prevention and control.