Healthcare-associated infections and infectious diseases in emergency care

Ramon Shaban, Deborough Macbeth, Philip Russo, Brett Mitchell, James Pearce, Catherine Viengkham

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

As populations grow worldwide so do challenges for the control and prevention of infectious diseases and healthcare associated infections (HAis). Generally speaking, infectious diseases are diseases where the causative agent passes or is carried from one person or organism to another, albeit directly or indirectly. As a rule, HAis are infections that are acquired in healthcare facilities ('nosocomial' infections) or are infections occurring as a result of healthcare interventions ('iatrogenic' infections), which may become evident after people leave the healthcare facility.1 ·2 A variety of like and related definitions exist which are determined by, among other things, the setting or context in which they occur. Community-acquired infections are those acquired and detected within 48 hours of hospital admission in patients without previous contact with a healthcare facility. 3 A hospital-acquired infection is a localised or systemic condition resulting from an adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent(s) or its toxin(s), and was present 48 hours or more after hospital admission and not incubating at hospital admission time. 3- 5 The clinical and epidemiological term HAis are those infections detected within 48 hours of hospital admission in patients who had previous contact with a healthcare facility within 1 year.4
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEmergency and Trauma Care for Nurses and Paramedics 4e
EditorsKate Curtis, Margaret Fry, Bill Lord, Clair Ramsden, Ramon Z. Shaban
Place of PublicationChatswood, NSW
PublisherElsevier Australia
Chapter27
Pages683-707
Number of pages25
Edition4th
ISBN (Electronic)9780729589871
ISBN (Print)9780729544412
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Infections
  • emergency care
  • hygiene
  • infectious disease
  • personal protective equipment

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