Infectiology and hospital hygiene

Skills in both tight linked areas are today more important than ever. The increasing number of infections with a simultaneously gain proof of multidrug resistant pathogens makes it necessary to prohibit the appearance of infections and when necessary initiating the right antibiotic therapy.  This hast to work fast and has to eliminate the chance of formation or selection of multidrug resistant pathogens.

Hospital hygiene has the goal to protect the patients against nosocomial infections.  An Infection is nosocomial if it occurs at the third day of a hospital stay, which means that the patient giant it at the hospital. But it has to be differentiated where the germ came from. This could be germs which are from the patient himself or germs which are transferred to him from the outside. We are all hosts of trillions of microorganisms, the skin, the upper respiratory tract, the genitourinary tract and mostly the bowl with the largest bacterial count in the colon. This is a very natural process which helps the people in many ways. But if however bacteria from the human flora gets into a operative wound, postoperative in to the urinary tract or in to the lungs these germs can develop in to serious or life threatening infections (endogenous infection).

On the second way pathogenic bacteria are transmitted from the outside to the patient. These bacteria can be transmitted for example from patient to patient or over the hands of employees or form the environment of the patient’s room (exogenous infection).

Hospital hygiene measures put on two points: in the environment of the patient and at the patient himself. By means of strict and organisational measures the transfer from patient to patient is minimized. All rooms are cleaned and sanitized according to the latest guidelines of the hospital hygiene commission and all employees are trained by our hygiene specialists on how to deal with patients.  One very important measure is the hygienic hand disinfection. The second point is the patients themselves. If there is for example any indication, which means risk factors, for the possibility that there is already colonization with multidrug-resistant pathogens on admission to the clinic St. Wolfgang, then a microbiological examination takes place. If patients are staying because of a surgical intervention the preoperative care, especially in the surgical field, is important for the prevention of postoperative wound infections. As it is the same with postoperative care. In such cases there is a clear course of action in the hygiene plan which is based on international scientific findings and guidelines.  In the rare case of a nosocomial infection there are additional measures in the hygiene plan which is immediately put into effect.  The hygiene plan of the clinic St. Wolfgang is secured electronically and every employee can have a look at it at every computer terminal. It depends not only on the topicality and quality but also the quick and easy access in terms of questions and problems. All nosocomial infections like pneumonia, postoperative wound infection, urinary tract infections, infections of the bones and joints and antibiotic – associated diarrhea are treated with an innovative, specially developed program recorded and regularly evaluated. This can be used over time to detect and eliminate any deficiencies and gaps in patient care!