How Hospitals Prevent Spreading of Infections

As soon as hospitals are places where biologically hazardous materials are numerous, it is necessary to keep control over them and not to let infections spread. There are special sets of preventive, organizational and anti-epidemic measures that are taken to avoid or stop any infection or virus. A hospital can also become a center of infection, so these measures will be taken in order not to let the infection spread beyond its territory. These measures are usually based on results of certain epidemiologic diagnostics. Upon the whole, they are known as infection control. This control helps to reduce cases of infection and the damage they cause, especially if it is hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infection.

A Group of Specialists

There are several main aspects of this control that make it effective. First of all, any hospital or clinic needs to have a special group of specialists. These specialists take preventive measures while there are no serious infections within the hospital. If there is a risk of a nosocomial contagion, these specialists do what they can and have to do to stop its spreading. Such a group usually includes an infectious disease officer, assistant, chief nurse and several specialists: surgeons, general practitioners, infectiologists, etc. This staff can be expanded depending on the need.

Regular Analyses

To prevent any nosocomial infections, it is necessary to perform microbiologic studies regularly. Specialists need to control the level of microorganisms that can be found inside the hospital, their pathogenic power, tolerance to antibiotics, antiseptics or disinfectants. Such examinations can be done in a local laboratory. If there is no suitable equipment, this infection control information can be received from outer laboratories.

A Scheme of Actions

If an infection breaks out, specialists have to act on a certain scheme. It usually starts with a retrospective analysis: it is necessary to find out what caused contagion and which factors let the infection to propagate. Then, specialists have to find out the scale of infection, take control over the process and make a prognosis of the epidemic situation. All the information they collect in such a way is sent to superior institutions that control the way the hospital is fighting the infection. This connection is needed to provide the hospital with enough medications, specialists, assistants and needed tools for an effective fight with the disease.

Sanitary Regulations

Finally, there are special measures that prevent infection of the personnel. All nurses and aides should be very careful about these measures, especially after a contact with an infected patient. The matter is hospital workers who give little attention to sanitary regulations are one of the main cause of infection among patients. Besides that, it is necessary to focus attention of janitors at places used by all patients, such as toilets and bathrooms.