The Pattern and Impact of Hospital-Acquired Infections and Its Outlook in India

Abstract

Nosocomial infections form one of the most challenging tasks to deal with in a hospital setting. The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) significantly affects the patient's cost of medical treatment and seriously impacts the economy of a developing country like India. Haphazard antibiotic use for the treatment of these infections has led to the development of resistance among the microbes, and factors that complicate microbial eradication further worsen the scenario. A large percentage of the HAI are preventable by simply following up various protocols which when supported by judicious antibiotic use can declutter the severity of the problem. Organized infection control measures, trained hospital staff, and continuous surveillance of HAI in healthcare settings will help deal with nosocomial infections. Although the ability to deal with HAI in a patient might determine his survival after acquiring a nosocomial infection, prevention remains the best option at all times. Lowering down the burden of nosocomial infections is of utmost importance since it contributes significantly to the overall resource utilization of the hospital and the country. Implementing the use of nanoparticles and nanotechnology in delivering target-specific drugs might be helpful in preventing antibiotic resistance. Taking into account reports of nosocomial infection patterns in various centres of India, the seriousness and consequences of HAI are uncovered in this article.