Nosocomial Infection

Nosocomial Infection

■ Definition: A hospital-acquired infection that can be fatal to an immunosuppressed Pt. Nosocomial infections are transmitted by either accidental or deliberate disregard for standard precautions designed to minimize transmission from Pt to Pt or from health-care provider to Pt.

■ Common Organisms: Clostridium difficile (C-diff), methicillinresistant Staph. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Staph. aureus (VRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

■ Likely Access: Indwelling catheters, vascular access devices, endotracheal (ET) tubes, nasogastric (NG) and gastric tubes, and surgical wound sites.

■ Prevention: Use Standard Precautions during Pt contact.