Hospital-Acquired Infections: Common Types, Symptoms & Prevention Strategies

Major Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Cause: Bacterial contamination during surgery or from endogenous flora

Symptoms: Pain, swelling, erythema, purulent drainage at incision site, fever

Prevention: Antimicrobial prophylaxis, sterile technique, glycemic control, normothermia

Cause: Bacterial entry via urinary catheter (extraluminal or intraluminal)

Symptoms: Fever, suprapubic pain, dysuria, cloudy/foul urine, delirium in elderly

Prevention: Avoid unnecessary catheters, aseptic insertion, closed drainage, early removal

Cause: Aspiration of oropharyngeal pathogens; biofilm on endotracheal tubes

Symptoms: Fever, leukocytosis, purulent sputum, new infiltrates on CXR, hypoxia

Prevention: Head-of-bed elevation 30-45°, oral care with chlorhexidine, sedation vacations, subglottic suctioning

Cause: Toxin-producing C. diff spores; antibiotic disruption of normal flora

Symptoms: Watery diarrhea (≥3/day), abdominal cramping, fever, leukocytosis

Prevention: Antibiotic stewardship, contact precautions, sporicidal disinfection (bleach), hand hygiene with soap/water

Cause: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; colonizes nares, skin

Manifestations: Skin/soft tissue infections, pneumonia, bacteremia, surgical site infections

Prevention: Active surveillance testing, contact precautions, decolonization (mupirocin/CHG), antibiotic stewardship

Hand Hygiene: WHO 5 Moments; alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) unless C. diff/Norovirus
Antimicrobial Stewardship: Optimize antibiotic selection, dose, duration
Environmental Cleaning: Terminal cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectants
Device Management: Daily necessity assessment for lines, catheters, vents
Surveillance & Feedback: NHSN reporting; unit-level HAI rate feedback