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Nosocomial Infections

Harneet Ranauta, MD, MPH and Sidney Ontai, MBA, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Also known as health care–associated infections (HAIs)

  • Infection acquired while receiving health care

  • Infection must not have been present or incubating on admission to a health care f...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Exposure to a healthcare facility

  • Recent surgery/open wounds

    • Smoking prior to surgery could increase the risk of SSIs

  • History of indwelling devices

    • Urinary catheter placement

    • Indwelling v...

TREATMENT

  • Remove the source of infection, if possible

    • CAUTI: Remove urinary catheter.

    • CLABSI: Remove the IV catheter.

  • Make sure to collect cultures before starting antibiotics

  • Start empiric anti...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

The risk for recurrence is generally low in immunocompetent patients. Manage underlying comorbidities appropriately. 

PROGNOSIS

  • Bloodstream infect...

ADDITIONAL READING

Kalil AC, Metersky ML, Klompas M, et al. Management of adults with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia: 2016 clinical practice guidelines by the ...

SEE ALSO

https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/covid-19-guideline-infection-prevention/ 

CODES

ICD10

  • T83.51XA Infect/inflm reaction due to indwell urinary catheter, init

  • T81.4XXA Infection following a procedure, initial encounter

  • J95.851 Ventilator associated pneumonia

  • T82.7XXA Infect/inflm r...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Nosocomial infections increase mortality, length of hospital stay, and cost of hospitalization.

  • Proper hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand product or soap and water should be carri...

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