Frequent visits to the hospital can make you contract these 4 diseases

There are countless lives that have been saved in the hospital. But most of us probably never thought that visiting the hospital, the main destination for help, could make our problems worse.

Yes, even the cleanest, cleanest, and most sophisticated hospitals are often haunted by infectious diseases. If you are not good at protecting yourself, you will be more susceptible to these contagious diseases.

Infections that are susceptible to being transmitted in the hospital

Everyone who is hospitalized is at risk for contracting hospital acquired infection (HAI). In medical terms, HAI is also known as nosocomial infection. This infection can occur from 48 hours after admission to the hospital, three days after discharge, or 30 days after undergoing surgery.

HAI is more common in developing countries. Studies show that five to 10 percent of hospitals in Europe and North America report cases of HAI. In other regions such as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, case reports exceed 40 percent.

The symptoms and treatment of HAI will vary according to the type of infection. The most common types of HAI are:

1. Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that involves any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. A person can get this infection due to long-term urinary catheter insertion. The urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain urine. About 15-25 percent of hospitalized patients receive urinary catheters during their stay.

2. Bloodstream infection

The CVC line (central line / central venous catheter) is very useful in health care settings. If you've been in the ER before for a serious condition, or have been hospitalized, you may have had these devices on. Venous access devices have an important role to play in supporting your health while in the hospital. The reason is, this tool serves as an entry point for fluids, drugs, or blood supply to the body. This tool can also allow doctors to immediately perform certain tests.

Apart from their practicality and importance, CVC lines also pose a potential side hazard, namely bloodstream infections. Bloodstream infections due to central line placement (CLABSI) can occur when germs gain access to the patient's bloodstream from the central line tube. CLABSI can cause fever accompanied by chills, palpitations, redness, swelling, or pain at the catheter insertion site, and cloudy discharge from the catheter site.

Fortunately, doctors and the medical team are trained to prevent infection transmission by performing sanitary sterilization pre and post procedures to insert a central line catheter. The medical team also always ensures that the catheter tube is removed immediately when it is no longer needed. Apart from the medical team, you can also take precautions yourself by maintaining cleanliness at the catheter insertion site.

3. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is another infection that can be transmitted in the hospital. Most cases of transmission of this disease result from the use of a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine used to help a patient breathe. This device contains oxygen and will be placed in the patient's mouth or nose, or it could be through a hole in the front of the neck.

Infection can occur when germs enter through the tube and enter the patient's lungs. Now, to help reduce the transmission of pneumonia infection to other patients due to the use of a ventilator, health care providers will usually keep the patient's bed at an angle of 30- 45 degrees. Health workers will also immediately remove the ventilator as soon as the patient can breathe on his own, clean the inside of the patient's mouth regularly, and wash hands before and after handling the patient's ventilator.

Meanwhile, if you want to avoid exposure to infectious viruses, you can wear a mask while in the hospital. You also have to be diligent about washing your hands, especially after touching surfaces such as door handles.

4.Operation site infection (SSI)

A surgical wound infection is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Surgical wound infection can sometimes occur lightly because it only involves the surface of the skin. On the other hand, this infection can also be serious when it involves inflamed tissue under the skin, organs, or implant material.

In the United States, more than 8,000 people die each year from surgical wound infections due to HAI. Fortunately, the risk of this deadly disease usually has no effect on ED patients unless they require an emergency procedure such as a tracheostomy (insertion of a chest tube), or perhaps transfer to an operating room. However, because this action is sometimes necessary, you should still be aware of the SSI risk if you or a relative is admitted to the ER.

If you have an infection in the area of ​​the surgery, initial symptoms can include fever, redness and pain at the surgery site. Cloudy discharge from the wound where the surgical incision is made may also occur. If you notice these signs after surgery you should tell your doctor right away so he can prescribe antibiotics.

What makes the infection more contagious in the hospital?

Basically all hospitals have control procedures and policies around the spread of infection. Health professional staff are also required to take every precaution to avoid infection. However, the risk of infection is never completely avoided and some people have a higher risk of contracting the infection than others.

Infections are diseases caused by micro-organisms such as viruses, fungi, bacteria or parasites. These micro-organisms are often called "bugs" or "germs". Most nosocomial infections are caused by bacteria. Bacteria, fungi and viruses are spread primarily through person-to-person contact. In the case of HAI, the risk of infection increases when dirty hands, and medical equipment such as catheters, breathing machines, and other hospital equipment are involved.

The infection can be treated with antibiotics and usually responds well. Even so, there are also infections that are difficult to treat and can be life threatening. Yes, some bacteria are difficult to treat because they are resistant to standard antibiotics that doctors prescribe.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are examples of the bacteria that cause most cases of HAI that are resistant to many antibiotics. Staph bacteria and MRSA can cause various problems ranging from skin infections, sepsis, pneumonia, to infections in the bloodstream. When MRSA attacks the skin, C. diff chases the digestive system, sometimes causing deadly inflammation of the colon. Of all cases of HAI, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as the cause of UTI, pneumonia, and kidney disease (morbidity rate) which is higher than other bacteria.

All people who undergo intensive hospitalization in hospital are at particular risk for transmission of HAI. Some of the groups that are more susceptible to contracting the infection in hospital are young children, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases (eg diabetes), or those with weak immune systems.

You should tell your doctor immediately if new and / or unrelated symptoms develop during your stay in the hospital.