Prevalence of Nosocomial Infection

Healthcare Proposal: Prevalence of Nosocomial Infection

Introduction

Hospital-acquired infection is considered to be the most urgent issue that needs immediate solutions. There may be different causes, reasons, and underpinnings of infections, including viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens, which refer to the most common kinds of bloodstream infection, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia, surgical site infections, and urinary tract infections. In response to these challenges, healthcare professionals should pay specific attention to quality management and hygiene within hospital to prevent the prevalence of nosocomial infection. While researching the topic, the emphasis will be placed on such aspects as identification of the most frequently occurred diseases, risk factors causing infection occurrence, measures taken by nursing professionals to prevent nosocomial infection, diagnosing, and possible recommendations on the situation improvement.

Review Relevant Literature

In the studies by Sohn et al., the researchers pay attention to define the risk rates nosocomial infections (827). They have also conducted national assessment of hospital-based infections to define its prevalence, associated risk factors, and prevention measures. Based on a survey of nosocomial infections, the data has been gathered on diagnoses, therapeutic interventions, treatments, and outcomes (Sohn et al. 826). The results have revealed that about 12 % of 827 patients had hospital-acquired infections, including bloodstream, lower respiratory tract, ear-nose-throat, and urinary infections.

Rosenthal et al. have also dedicated their research to analyzing the work of intensive care units in Asia, Africa, Latin, America, and Europe to define that developing countries’ units are similar to those presented in the United States (96). However, the rate of device-associated infections has been significantly higher. In particular, it has been reported that 13.6 % of ventilator-associated pneumonia cases have been detected in the country, as compared to 3.3 % in the US units (Rosental et al. 96). Additionally, Helder, Brug, Looman, van Goudoever, and Kornelisse assume that bloodstream infections are regarded as the most dangerous ones because they cause higher rates of morbidity in neonatal ICUs (1246). The researchers have also argued that relevant hand hygiene is essential to comply with the highest quality standards. The infants with bloodstream infections that they received at hospital face serious threats. And therefore, hand hygiene interventions should be controlled. Additionally, the results of the study are congruent with the advancement of hand hygiene practices in healthcare with the introduction of education program.

Infection control is a priority for each hospital organization because it minimizes the risks of hospital-acquired disease. Using algorithms and guidelines for controlling infections should be a priority for every healthcare organization. In this respect, Cohen et al. investigate the risks associated with the spread of C. difficile diarrhea infection. The scholars believe that the infection spread is predetermined by inadequate healthcare policies and quality standards. By providing the epidemiology and diagnosis, Cohen et al. have assumed that “C. difficile accounts for 20-30 % of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is the most commonly recognized cause of infectious diarrhea in healthcare settings” (n. p.). Therefore, the mechanisms for disease prevention in hospitals should be reconsidered to define what changes should be made to increase high quality standards.

Research Questions

1. What are the quality standards for infection control and prevention in hospitals?

2. Are there any risk factors associated with nosocomial infection spread?

3. What intervention programs could be implemented to manage hospital-acquired infections?

Methodology

The Qualitative Data Source and Procedures

The main benefit of qualitative research consists in the possibility to observe the existing trends in managing problems, as well as define behavioral patterns and responses to a specific phenomenon. In the context of managing hospital-acquired infection, a review of literature will help the scholars to define the cases of infection spread, the main causes, as well as possible interventions. In order to answer the research questions and meet the objectives, the action research method could be the best option for problem solving in nursing. In particular, Streubert, Streubert and Carpenter assume, “the characteristics of action research provide nurse research with a framework for exposing group knowledge and planning with thoe most involved rather than imposing expert knowledge and planning” (300). Therefore, action method aims to enhance the methods for research, as well as shed light on real-world problems.

Participants

The participants will be chosen from 25 hospitals from different regions in the United States. These will be volunteer nurses that will be informed about the research objective and the overall process. Prior to participating into interviews, nurses will be e-mailed by the research to reply back with a formal written content. The interviews will be composed of ten semi-structured questions that will relate to the evaluation of nurses’ behavior, daily practices, and problems at work. The interviews will be recorded and transcribed to split information into thematic nodes. The participants will involve nurses, physicians, and manager to understand the route of the problem from all dimensions.

Justification for the Methodology

The qualitative observational study based on action research methods is the best way to understand the origins, problems, and challenges of infection control and prevention within hospitals. In particular, the research implies active engagement into the research and constant adjustment to the received findings (Streubert et al. 300). Therefore, qualitative analysis of information seems to be more efficient in terms of the depth of research because statistical data fails to provide assessment of existing perceptions and behaviors.

Analysis

The data analysis will be carried out as soon as the interview responses are divided into thematic nodes. The evaluation of participants’ behavior and reactions is also of great value because it defines their attitude to the objectives of the research.

Contributing to the Data Analysis

The data analysis can be supported with statistics and related case studies withdrawn from literature to have a better idea of its validity and reliability. Mental process is essential for drawing the corresponding conclusions and assumptions and, therefore, the researchers must develop themes and problems before they receive information from the participants to make sure that the research relates to the research questions.

Works Cited

Cohen, Stuart H., Dale N. Gerding, Stuart Johnson, Ciaran P. Kelly, Vivian G. Loo, Clifford McDonald, Jaque Pepin, and Mark Wilcox. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clostridium Difficile Infection in Adults: 2010 Update by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Disease Society of America. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 31.5 (2010).

Goudoever, Rene F. Kornelisse. Care unit: An intervention study with before and after comparison. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 47.10 (2010).

Rosenthal, Victor, D., Dennis, G., Maki, Silom Hamulitrat, Eduardo A. Medeiros, Subhash Kumar Todi…and Maria Eugenia Guzman Siritt. International Nosocomial Infections Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary for 2003-2008, issued June 2009. American Journal of Infection Control, 38.2 (2010).

Sohn, Annette, H., Denise O. Garrett, Ronda L. Sinkowitz-Cochran, Lisa A. Grohskopf, Gail, L Levine, …and William Jarvis. Prevalence of Nosocomial Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Patients: Results from the First National Point-Prevalence Survey. The Journal Of Pediatrics, 139.6 (2001).

Streubert, Helen, S., Helen J. Streubert, and Dona Rinaldi Carpenter. Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011.