Chapter 125. Health Care– Associated Infections (Part 1) Harrison''''s Internal Medicine Chapter pps

Health Care– Associated Infections Part 1 Harrison's Internal Medicine > Chapter 125.. Health Care–Associated Infections Health Care–Associated Infections: Introduction The costs of

Chapter 125 Health Care– Associated Infections

(Part 1)

Harrison's Internal Medicine > Chapter 125 Health Care–Associated

Infections

Health Care–Associated Infections: Introduction

The costs of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) and other health care– associated infections are great It is estimated that these infections affect >2 million patients, cost $4.5 billion, and contribute to 88,000 deaths in U.S hospitals annually Efforts to lower infection risks have been challenged by the growing numbers of immunocompromised patients, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungal and viral superinfections, and invasive devices and procedures Nevertheless, evidence-based guidelines for prevention and control are available (Table 125-1);

according to some estimates, consistent application of these guidelines may reduce the risk of health care–associated infection by more than one-third, and the growing viewpoint of consumer advocates is that almost all such infections are preventable This chapter reviews health care–acquired and device-related infections and the basic surveillance, prevention, control, and treatment activities that have been developed to deal with these problems

Table 125-1 Sources of Infection-Control Guidance and Oversight

Orga

nization

Role Major Constituents

Web Site

JCAH

O

Regu latory

Hospitals, long-term-care facilities, laboratories

http://www.jcaho.org

latory

Laborator ies

http://www.cap.org

A latory

CMS

(formerly

HCFA)

Regu latory

Medicare /Medicaid providers

http://www.cms.hhs.gov

DH

QP

Advi sory

Health care facilities and personnel

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhq p/index.html

HIC

PAC

Advi sory

Health care facilities and personnel

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhq p/hicpac_charter.html

NIO

SH

Advi sory

Workers http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/

AHR

Q

Advi sory

Broad (e.g., health care

http://www.ahrq.org

personnel)

sory

Broad (e.g., health care personnel)

http://www.qualityforum.org

sory

Broad (e.g., health care personnel)

http://www.iom.edu

ssional

society

Infectious disease

physicians/resea rchers

http://www.idsociety.org

ssional

society

Hospital epidemiologists

http://www.shea-online.org

ssional

Infection-control

http://www.apic.org

society practitioners

MedQ

IC

Qual ity

improveme

nt

Broad (e.g., health care personnel)

http://www.medqic.org

ity improveme

nt

Broad (e.g., health care personnel)

http://www.ihi.org