الفهرس 
Health-care Associated InfectionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
minimize the risk of spreading infections, especially in hospitals and health care facilities.
Nosocomial infection: An infection that develops during or as a result of an admission to a hospital and was not incubating at the time of admission (Siegel et al., 2007).
Healthcare associated infections are associated with higher healthcare costs and may act as a surrogate for hospital quality of care (Kang et al., 2005). Healthcare-associated infections are also associated with considerable morbidity and mortality among infected patients and continue to increase in incidence despite laborious and costly infection prevention efforts (Toubes et al., 2003).
The health-care environment contains a diverse population of microorganisms, but only a few are significant pathogens for susceptible humans (Bennett et al., 1998).
Chain of infection components (Greene, 1969):
1. Adequate number of pathogenic organisms (dose)
2. Pathogenic organisms of sufficient virulence
3. A susceptible host
4. An appropriate mode of transmission or transferal of the organism in sufficient number from source to host
5. The correct portal of entry into the host
Standard precautions are the basic level of infection control precautions which are to be used, as a minimum, in the care of all patients (Siegel et al., 2007).
Hand hygiene is a major component of standard precautions and one of the most effective methods to prevent transmission of pathogens associated with health care (WHO, 2009).
In addition to hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment should be guided by risk assessment and the extent of contact anticipated with blood and body fluids, or pathogens (WHO, 2009).
Environmental:
Cleaning and disinfecting non-critical surfaces in patient-care areas are part of Standard Precautions. The cleaning and disinfection of all patient-care areas is important for frequently touched surfaces, especially those closest to the patient, that are most likely to be contaminated (e.g., bedrails, bedside tables, commodes, doorknobs, sinks, surfaces and equipment in close proximity to the patient) (Bhalla et al., 2004).
The frequency or intensity of cleaning may need to change based on the patient’s level of hygiene and the degree of environmental contamination and for certain for infectious agents whose reservoir is the intestinal tract (Donskey, 2004).
Toilet seats, flush handles, wash-hand basin taps, surfaces and toilet door handles should be cleaned at least daily or more often, depending on use. Hot water and detergent should be used for this purpose (WHO, 2009).
Ideally, disposable gloves and cloths will be used for cleaning. These may be disposed of by placing them in a plastic bag, sealing the neck and placing with solid waste (WHO, 2009).
Needles and sharp related injuries:
Injuries due to needles and other sharps have been associated with transmission of HBV, HCV and HIV to healthcare personnel (Do et al., 2003). The prevention of sharps injuries has always been an essential element of Universal and now Standard Precautions.
These include measures to handle needles and other sharp devices in a manner that will prevent injury to the user and to others who may encounter the device during or after a procedure. These measures apply to routine patient care and do not address the prevention of sharps injuries and other blood exposures during surgical and other invasive procedures that are addressed elsewhere (Holodnick and Barkauskas, 2000).
Endoscope reprocessing
Compliance with guidelines is the chief factor compromising the safety of endoscope reprocessing. The consequences of failure to follow recommendations may be not only transmission of pathogens, but also misdiagnosis (due to pathological material from one patient being introduced into the next patient), instrument malfunction, and a shortened instrument lifespan (ASGE et al., 2011).
Surveillance:
Surveillance is defined as the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data regarding a health-related event for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health (German et al., 2001).
Surveillance of both infection control process measures and the infection rates to which they are linked are important for evaluating the effectiveness of infection prevention efforts and identifying indications for change (Bratzler and Houck, 2004).