Hospital-acquired infections, or HAIs, are illnesses that patients contract while in the hospital but weren't there or hadn't started to grow when they were first admitted. Because they lead to more extended hospital stays, higher healthcare expenses, and more resource usage, including personal protective equipment (PPE), drugs, laboratory testing, and health-associated infections (HAIs), there is considerably increased waste in healthcare settings. (Monegro et al., 2023) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, HAIs impact 1.7 million patients, resulting in an additional $20 billion in healthcare expenses and roughly 99,000 fatalities. Because HAIs raise the cost of more extended hospital stays, more treatments, and greater resource consumption, they have a substantial financial impact on healthcare organizations. (HAIs: Reports and Data, 2024)
Establishing a thorough infection prevention program, including standard, contact, and transmission-based precautions, is one evidence-based approach to treating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Using PPE, such as gloves and gowns, is part of standard precautions to stop the spread of illnesses. Using extra PPE, including masks and eye protection, is known as contact precautions when caring for patients with known or suspected HAIs. When providing care for patients with infections that can be transmitted through the air or droplets, transmission-based precautions call for airborne and droplet precautions.
Establishing hand hygiene guidelines is another evidence-based tactic to combat HAIs. Good hand cleanliness is the best defense against the transmission of illnesses, yet healthcare workers frequently don't practice it.
Organizational culture is crucial regarding the prevalence of HAIs and the application of evidence-based practices to mitigate them. Reducing the prevalence of HAIs requires a safety culture that prioritizes patient safety and high-quality care. Nursing leaders can spread the word about the proposed solutions by encouraging a culture of safety, offering instruction and training on infection prevention and control, and participating in interprofessional collaboration and communication. Nursing leaders can also evaluate and use evidence-based approaches to manage HAIs using quality improvement programs like Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. How can technology be leveraged to reduce waste in the area you have discussed?
