Nosocosmial infections and preventive health care practices

Background: Nosocomial infections (NI) are common, ongoing concerns in health care facilities, occurring within 48 hours after admission, three days after discharge or 30 days after a surgical procedure. NIs pose constant threats to patients with compromised immune systems who must remain in health care settings for prolonged periods. Air purification and filtration methods (natural and mechanical), heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system maintenance, waste disposal and hygiene practices of health care workers have been a main foci of investigations into reasons for the spread of NIs. According to ASHRAE standards, air exchange rates within health care microenvironments should be ≥6 exchanges of air per hour. This standard is same in most hospitals, yet NIs remain an issue in public health. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted of research papers published 1995-2010 pertaining to preventive health care and exposure prevention/mitigation techniques. A search was conducted through multiple journal databases to compare relative research literature concerning practices and the affects of these practices on the spread of NIs. We will present findings of our literature review and make recommendations for health educators working in health care settings. Conclusion: Existing research concerning conditioning and purifying the air solely through mechanical methods is still fairly inconclusive. Other practices, like opening windows and/or doors when possible, and hygienic practices of health care workers potentially decrease NI transmission. Waste disposal techniques varied slightly, but, in hospitals studied, those facilities which incinerated waste had more particulates in the surrounding environment than those that do not.