Implications of infection and trends of antibiotic prescribing in hospitalized patients diagnosed with serious mental illness

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections have been recognized as a significant factor in increased morbidity and mortality across our health system. Unique to infections associated with inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is the additional hypothesized association of the role that antipsychotic agents and/or underlying disease may play in an increased risk for infection. In this paper, we explore the types of infections diagnosed in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, the demographics of the patients infected, and whether or not the patient was on antipsychotic agents at the time of infection.

Bacterial Contamination of Surfaces in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroconvulsive Therapy: Do We Have Hygiene Problems in Interventional Psychiatry?

“…Furthermore, patients with psychiatric illnesses are at 9 times higher risk of developing urinary tract infections than the general population. 4 In a psychiatric clinic in Switzerland, the surfaces of TMS magnetic coils were investigated before (n = 25) and after (n = 25) disinfection the morning before any treatment. To measure the impact that the patients had on the surface, probes were taken after treatment without any disinfection (n = 25) and 25 times with disinfection after every patient to show the effect of regularly performed disinfection.…”

“…It was found that they can worsen psychosis. Furthermore, patients with psychiatric illnesses are at 9 times higher risk of developing urinary tract infections than the general population 4 …”