Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI)

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Problem
The problem at hand is hospital-acquired infections (HAI), which is a critical issue in the healthcare environment. HAIs refer to diseases that patients acquire while receiving medical treatment in a healthcare facility, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. HAIs can cause significant morbidity and mortality, leading to extended hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and patient suffering (Monegro et al., 2022). Thus, HAI is an issue that needs resolution.
As a float pool nurse, the issue of HAIs is particularly relevant, as one works across various units in a hospital, increasing the potential for infection transmission between patients, staff, and visitors. The risk of transmission can be heightened if employees fail to follow proper procedures or policies for infection prevention and control. Infection prevention and control are essential components of healthcare practice. Healthcare providers must ensure that their practices do not contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. The importance of infection control measures has been further highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has demonstrated the severe consequences of failing to follow proper infection prevention protocols (Grasselli et al., 2021).
In conclusion, the issue of HAI is highly applicable to the area of nursing practice and the broader healthcare environment. The healthcare provider is responsible for being aware of the risks and taking the necessary steps to prevent and control infections to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients, themselves, and their colleagues.
Investigation of the Problem
Several pieces of evidence support the existence of the problem of HAIs and underscore the need for effective infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings. For instance, hospitals and healthcare facilities conduct regular assessments of infection control practices and rates of HAIs. These assessments provide data on the prevalence and impact of HAIs within a particular organization. According to a 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2018), approximately one in 31 hospital patients in the United States has at least one HAI on any given day. Moreover, national organizations, such as the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO, 2022), provide guidelines and recommendations on infection prevention and control practices. These guidelines are based on extensive research and serve as a standard for healthcare organizations. For example, the CDC’s “Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections” provides evidence-based recommendations for reducing catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), a common type of HAI. In addition, healthcare providers and patients have firsthand experience with the impact of HAIs. It was found that patients with HAIs had more extended hospital stays, higher mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs compared to patients without HAIs. Healthcare providers may also witness the impact of HAIs on their patients and colleagues and understand the importance of infection control practices.
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