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Introduction
The modern healthcare sector faces numerous challenges that come from the complexity of the contemporary environment and increased levels of demands on the quality of provided services. However, there are issues that have always been topical, and that should be given specific attention to improve outcomes and attain high levels of patients satisfaction. The question of healthcare-associated infections can be considered one of this sort (HAIs). The fact is many clients suffer from medical problems that appeared in the healthcare setting and contributed to the significant deterioration of their states. For this reason, the improved understanding of the central roots of this issue and how it evolves is critical for all fields of practice as it helps to comprehend mechanisms of the problems emergence and find how it can be solved. The topicality of the given problem resulted in multiple research works devoted to the issue. For this reason, the paper reviews the literature related to HAIs and probable solutions.
Background
Defining the term health-associated infections, the authors are united in the opinion that it is an infection that is acquired in a hospital or any other healthcare facility (Sawyer & White, 2014; Kritsotakis et al.,2015). There are different causes for the emergence of the given problem; however, regardless of the factor that resulted in its evolution, HAIs have a pernicious impact on patients and treatment outcomes. In accordance with the relevant statistics, this sort of acquired infection is one of the central causes of the appearance of multiple complications in patients (Kritsotakis et al., 2015). Moreover, HAIs might precondition lethal consequences especially speaking about surgical units and emergency departments (Kritsotakis et al., 2015). Providing the given statistics and accepting the increased importance of the issue, researchers agree that there is a strong need for efficient prevention strategies and tools that might help to minimize the probability of the emergence of this problem and improve outcomes.
Scope of the Problem
The existing scientific literature states that HAIs might emerge in different healthcare settings. For instance, Kritsotakis et al. (2015) state that this sort of infection along with other complications that might arise pose a significant burden on the whole hospital system because of the spread of this problem and its topicality for all medical units. At the same time, HAIs remain the major issue for care providers, patients, monitoring specialists, and public health authorities. The approximate number of patients affected by the given problem is 3,2 million with the tendency towards a further increase (Kritsotakis et al., 2015). The situation is complicated by the fact that there is a dramatic rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogenic bacteria peculiar to the healthcare environment globally (Kritsotakis et al., 2015). For this reason, the complications that develop from HAIs become severe and their treatment become complex. It increases the number of failures, undesired outcomes, and deaths (Kritsotakis et al., 2015).
Hospital Environment
Furthermore, Steinberg et al. (2013) state that the modern hospital environment is endangered by numerous bacteria or viruses that might develop on different surfaces. In such a way, it can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms that can persist for long periods of time and have a pernicious impact on patients health and their outcomes (Steinberg et al., 2013). That is why the authors outline the urgent need for new technologies to guarantee better environmental cleaning and elimination of all pathogens. At the same time, the hospital environment might promote the emergence of these threats because of the disregard of recommendations about the prevention of contamination and HAIs in this setting. It also means that health facilities face a significant problem of the lack of understanding of the central roots of this problem and factors that might stimulate the growth of microorganisms in diverse departments.
Hand Hygiene
Analyzing the given problem, Sawyer and White (2014) state that there is credible evidence of the presence of contaminated areas and surfaces in patient care departments that stimulate the transmission of the pathogen and the further spread of HAIs. At the same time, there are specific alcohol hand rub dispensers in single-patient rooms, reanimations, and other critical departments that minimize the risk of infections and prevent their development (Steinberg et al., 2013). Unfortunately, the latest reviews of health workers and statistics show that numerous specialists disregard the existing guidelines concerning hand hygiene, or forget to use these dispersers, which results in the appearance of the high risk of contamination and the spread of HAIs to other departments (Steinberg et al., 2013). In such a way, poor hand hygiene and the inability to follow existing rules are considered the primary causes for the continuous topicality of the problem and adverse effects it has on patients and specialists.
Hand Awareness
Improved hand hygiene and observation of the existing guidelines related to this aspect could be considered the possible solutions to the problem of HAIs and their emergence in diverse healthcare settings. For this reason, Sawyer and White (2014) introduce the concept of Hand Awareness as one of the efficient measures to prevent respiratory infection and its development in different health units. The authors define it as the new integrated approach to hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and cross-contamination awareness methods that provide individuals with knowledge about the state of their hands and the need for specific cleaning procedures (Steinberg et al., 2013). Multiple teaching strategies should also be utilized to attain an improved understanding of the importance of this issue among students and health workers to guarantee better results concerning hand hygiene.
Cultivation of Appropriate Behaviors
In such a way, the majority of modern researchers agree that improved hand hygiene and observation of existing guidelines are two basic methods for minimizing HAIs incidence and attaining improved outcomes. Thus, Jackson (2015) in her paper is sure that the cultivation of the appropriate attitude to dirt and behaviors that might contribute to the improved solution to this problem should start in nursing schools. Reviewing undergraduate nursing students hand hygiene practices, she admits that many would-be health workers have low levels of understanding of the given issues importance and the impact it might have on the state of multiple health facilities (Jackson, 2015). Additionally, they have a low level of awareness regarding the spread of HAIs and their critical role in the functioning of the healthcare sector. For this reason, it is essential to promote the needed approaches to mitigate the high risk of contamination.
HH Monitoring Tool
The problem can be solved by introducing new more efficient tools to control hand hygiene (HH) among specialists and ensure a high level of prevention. Dyson and Made (2017) are sure that HH prevents the transmission of HAIs and improves the overall state of the unit. For this reason, the implementation of electronic tools to control this aspect of workers functioning might improve compliance and observation of basic guidelines. Devices that monitor room entry and exit along with the use of soap and alcohol rubs while communicating with patients have a positive impact on the state of the problem and reduce risks traditionally associated with the disregard of basic sanitarian norms (Dyson & Made, 2017). In this regard, their wide use and integration with the existing healthcare system can be considered a promising method to attain enhanced results.
Reconsideration of the Approach
Finally, speaking about HAIs and other problems associated with the healthcare sector, Storr, Kilpatrick, Allegranzi, and Syed (2016) assume that the approach to these issues should be altered. They are sure that the existing interconnection of infection prevention and control and HAIs is not completely covered (Storr et al., 2016). For this reason, it is critical to reconsider the utilized methods of working with these problems and their inclusion in the concept of universal health coverage to ensure that all patients who face similar issues will be able to acquire the needed assistance and care. It will help to attain higher satisfaction levels among clients and ensure their better cooperation with care providers, which is one of the critical elements of the modern healthcare sector.
Conclusion
Altogether, HAIs remain topical regarding the tendency towards the appearance of multiple complications in the hospital setting. For this reason, the introduction of an efficient solution is one of the central concerns of specialists and researchers working in this field. Improved hand hygiene and observation of basic hygienic rules are two possible methods for mitigating the high risk of contamination and improving outcomes. AN electronic HH monitoring tool can be recommended for implementation in multiple health facilities to minimize the risk of HAIs emergence.
References
Dyson, J., & Madeo, M. (2017). Investigating the use of an electronic hand hygiene monitoring and prompt device: Influence and acceptability. Journal of Infection Prevention, 18(6), 278-287. Web.
Jackson, C. (2015). Review: Self-perceived hand hygiene practices among undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Research in Nursing, 21(1), 20-21. Web.
Kritsotakis, E., Kontopidou, F., Astrinaki, E., Roumbelaki, M., Ioannidou, E., & Gikas, A. (2017). Prevalence, incidence burden, and clinical impact of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance: A national prevalent cohort study in acute care hospitals in Greece. Infection and Drug Resistance, 10, 317-328. Web.
Sawyer, R., & White, Z. (2014). Hand awareness: A solution not a revolution for respiratory infections. NASN School Nurse, 30(1), 15-19. Web.
Steinberg, J., Denham, M., Zimring, C., Kasali, A., Hall, K., & Jacob, J. (2013). The role of the hospital environment in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections by contact transmission. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 7(1), 46-73. Web.
Storr, J., Kilpatrick, C., Allegranzi, B., & Syed, S. (2016). Redefining infection prevention and control in the new era of quality universal health coverage. Journal of Research in Nursing, 21(1), 39-52. Web.
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