INTRODUCTION
Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) also known as health care associated infections encompass almost all clinically evident infections that do not originate from a patient's original admitting diagnosis (Nguyen 2009). The risk factors for the invasion of colonizing pathogens are:
According to World Health Organization (2002), HAIs are caused by viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens and the most frequent nosocomial infections are infections of surgical wounds, urinary tracts and lower respiratory tracts.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS
Nosocomial infections are estimated to occur in 5% of all acute care hospitalizations and the incidence rate is 5 infections per 1000 patient days. Based on 7000 acute care institutions in the United States, the incidence of HAIs is more than 2 million cases per year. They also result in 26,250 deaths and expenditure in excess of 4.5 billion dollars (Nguyen 2009).
In another study conducted by the department of health in 2004, it was found that 6-10% of patients who go to hospital in the United Kingdom acquire an infection. In addition, it has been estimated that 9% of in-patients acquire an infection; this according to experts is equivalent to at least 300000 infections per year.
The World Health Organization (2002) also reported that at any given time, over 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infectious complications acquired in the hospital.
A comprehensive study commissioned by the department of health and undertaken by the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine and the central public health laboratory in 1995 suggests that HAIs may be costing the NHS as much as 1 billion pounds a year (Bourne 2001).
HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAMMES
Infection control programmes are effective, provided they are comprehensive and include surveillance and prevention activities as well as staff training (WHO 2002).
The infection control team usually comprise one doctor, one or two nurses and a microbiologist if he or she is not the infection control doctor. The team is responsible for the day to day aspects of infection control and for preparing and implementing the infection control programme and policies. It is also responsible for surveillance of infection, auditing, monitoring of hospital hygiene, investigating and advising on control outbreaks and training all hospital staff in infection control. (Bourne 2000).
COMPONENTS OF INFECTION CONTROL CAMPAIGN
There are several components of effective infection control however this literature will focus on the following:
CONCLUSION
This study concludes by identifying health as a major priority for any society whereas hospital acquired infections remain a leading cause of death globally. Hospital Acquired infections are Is add to functional disability and emotional stress of the patient and may lead to disabling conditions that reduces quality of life of affected individuals hence the necessity of good infection control. This study identifies hai as a possible leading cause of death globally. Hai
