Understanding Nosocomial Wounds: Causes, Risks & Prevention

Nosocomial wounds are unrelated to a patient's primary condition---they are wounds the patient receives in a hospital, as a result of nosocomial infections, also called health care-associated infections (HAIs).

History

• The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system was set up in the 1970s to monitor incidents of HAIs. This developed into the National Healthcare Safety Network, now in operation to assist in monitoring what has become a widespread problem, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Cause

• The CDC states that the most common cause of nosocomial wounds is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a dangerous type of Staph bacteria that appears as a red, swollen, painful wound, often showing signs of drainage.

Transmission

• The infection is spread though physical contact with the infected person's wounds, bandages or contaminated personal items.

Prevention

• The best prevention is good hygiene. Wounds should be covered at all times. Hospital staff and visitors must use protective gloves when coming into contact with a patient who has the infection or any of the patient's belongings, and must wash their hands after each contact.

Warning

• Reporting outbreaks of infection is voluntary for hospitals, according to the CDC. They are under no legal obligation to notify the public or government agency when an outbreak of Staph infections or MRSA has occurred.