The clinical environment provides additional stress factors for patients and medical practitioners, and hospital-acquired infections (HAI) augment the risks in already stressful situations. According to Giuliano et al. (2019), hospital-acquired conditions remain a serious issue, contributing to the increase in healthcare costs and postponing the patient’s discharge. Battaglia and Hale (2019) state that hospital-acquired infections have become “a common and costly problem facing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit” (p. 523). According to the research, cancer patients form a particularly vulnerable subgroup of individuals demonstrating high mortality risks when exposed to such illnesses (Battaglia & Hale, 2019). Beside, McMullen et al. (2020) expect the HAI incidence rates to increase after the current Covid-19 pandemic, as people who delayed their treatment go to hospitals. Overall, it is possible to say that hospital-acquired infections lead to unnecessary complications in already serious cases.
As far as I am concerned, the phenomenon in question is directly connected to quality healthcare issues. The objective is to provide patients with a suitable environment in order to make their stay at the hospital as short and effective as possible. Hospital-acquired infections aggravate their existing conditions, thus adding stress and discomfort. Therefore, it is the hospital’s obligation to identify and eliminate the risk factors. From a nurse’s point of view, I have not faced this issue directly, but I am convinced that nurses play a crucial role in this case. Indeed, nurses remain in close contact with all parties involved, which is why we should pay attention to this matter. Effective measures may include basic procedures performed by nurses, such as more frequent hand washing and sanitizing. However, it may be necessary to perform an in-depth systemic analysis of the risk factors to eradicate the issue.
References
Battaglia, C. C., & Hale, K. (2019). Hospital-acquired infections in critically ill patients with cancer. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, 34(7), 523–536. Web.
Giuliano, K. K., Baker, D., & Quinn, B. (2018). The epidemiology of nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in the United States. American Journal of Infection Control, 46(3), 322–327. Web.
McMullen, K. M., Smith, B. A., & Rebmann, T. (2020). Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on hospital acquired infection rates in the United States: Predictions and early results. American Journal of Infection Control, 00, 1–3. Web.