NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION A nosocomial infection (HAI), also called nosocomial infection in medical literature, is an infection whose growth is favored by the hospital environment. It can be acquired by a patient during a hospital visit or can spread among hospital staff. Nosocomial infections include fungal and bacterial infections and are triggered by a person's decreased resistance. TYPES Modern healthcare employs many types of invasive measures and procedures to treat infected people and help them recover. Infections can be associated with devices used in medical procedures, such as catheters or ventilators. Infections can also occur at surgical sites, the CDC works to monitor and prevent these infections because they represent a critical threat to patient safety. The main types of nosocomial infections are: • Ventilator-associated pneumonia • Surgical site infection • Catheter-associated urinary tract infection • Central line-associated bloodstream infection CAUSE Nosocomial infections are commonly transmitted when hospital staff become casual and individuals associated with hospital practices do not practice proper hygiene on a regular basis. The use of outpatient care is increasing and has increased steadily over the past decade. Today, more people are hospitalized than ever before and are more likely to become seriously ill, especially those with weakened immune systems. Additionally, some medical procedures overcome the body's natural protective barriers. Since medical personnel treat many patients daily, the personnel themselves serve as a source of spread of pathogens. Therefore, personnel act as carriers of HAI.TRANSMISSIONS drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria...... half of the document ......en 4,500 and 7,000 deaths. A survey conducted in Lombardy gave a rate of 4.9% of patients in 2000. United Kingdom The estimate shows an infection rate of 10%, with an estimate of 8.2% in 2006. Switzerland Calculations vary between 2 and 14%. A national survey gave a rate of 7.2% in 2004. Finland. The rate was estimated at approximately 8.5% of patients in 2005. Belgium In Belgium the HAI epidemic is approximately 6.2%. Every year approximately 125,500 patients contract a nosocomial infection, resulting in 3,000 deaths. The additional costs for health compensation are estimated at around 400 million euros per year. CONCLUSION Through an effective analysis of non-socomial infections we are able to recognize the agents that commonly become the cause. Studying these agents helps us formulate methods to prevent them. Recent updates are also an important source for avoiding HAIs.