Predisposing Factors of Nosocomial Infections in Hospitalized Patients in the United Kingdom: Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Nosocomial infections are infections incubating or not present at the time of admission to a hospital and manifest 48 hours after hospital admission. The specific factors contributing to the risk of infection during hospitalization remain unclear, particularly for the hospitalized population of the United Kingdom. Objective The aim of this systematic literature review was to explore the risk factors of nosocomial infections in hospitalized adult patients in the United Kingdom. Methods A comprehensive keyword search was conducted through the PubMed, Medline, and EBSCO CINAHL Plus databases. The keywords included “risk factors” or “contributing factors” or “predisposing factors” or “cause” or “vulnerability factors” and “nosocomial infections” or “hospital-acquired infections” and “hospitalized patients” or “inpatients” or “patients” or “hospitalized.” Additional articles were obtained through reference harvesting of selected articles. The search was limited to the United Kingdom with papers written in English, without limiting for age and gender to minimize bias. The above process retrieved 377 articles, which were further screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The retained 9 studies were subjected to critical appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (cohort and case-control studies) and Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (cross-sectional studies) checklists. Finally, 6 eligible publications were identified and used to collect the study findings. A thematic analysis technique was used to analyze data extracted on risk factors of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients in the United Kingdom. Results The risk factors for nosocomial infections that emerged from the reviewed studies included older age, intrahospital transfers, cross-infection, longer hospital stay, readmissions, prior colonization with opportunistic organisms, comorbidities, and prior intake of antibiotics and urinary catheters. Nosocomial infections were associated with more extended hospital stays, presenting with increased morbidity and mortality. Measures for controlling nosocomial infections included the use of single-patient rooms, well-equipped wards, prior screening of staff and patients, adequate sick leave for staff, improved swallowing techniques and nutritional intake for patients, improved oral hygiene, avoiding unnecessary indwelling plastics, use of suprapubic catheters, aseptic techniques during patient care, and prophylactic use. Conclusions There is a need for further studies to aid in implementing nosocomial infection prevention and control.

Hospital Acquired Infection Revisited: Route of Transmission

“…Actually, there are numerous symptoms that can facilitate an infection to happen include frequent productive cough which usually have future exacerbation risk [38], shortness of breath as a hospital based risk acquired from wet breathing systems [39], abdominal pain which seldom present as surgically treated non traumatic acute abdomen [40], rebound pain or tenderness which usually acute and related to post-operative patient [41], acute changes in mental status, acute change in mental status or ACMS [42], suprapubic pain [43], polyuria [44], dysuria [45], and costovertebral angle tenderness [46].…”

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Nosocomial Infection in Hospitalized Children and Adults: A Review

“…Implemented interventions should consider the time frame before and after admission to control for organisms acquired during both periods. Further studies are needed to identify the risk factors of nosocomial infections and drug-resistant pathogens targeting a larger patient group for better infection prevention and control [1] . In a retrospective observational study conducted in a 6-bed surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at An-Najah National University Hospital (NNUH) in Palestine the incidence of nosocomial infections from January 2020 until December 2021 was detected.…”