Population Description and Health Concerns.

Population Description and Health Concerns

All patients admitted to the hospital to receive further treatment are at risk of Nosocomial infections/ hospital-acquired infections. This risk is even worsened by the fact that patients suffer from illnesses caused by totally different pathogens which can be transmitted from one person to another in different ways. However, most patients are often not aware of this risk. Instead, they are hospitalized with the hope and aim of having an improved health status after getting the necessary medical attention and reuniting with their loved ones. Besides, sick patients who are admitted in the hospital have a weak immune status and this increases their risk of suffering from nosocomial infections.Population Description and Health Concerns.

Pathogens such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus multi-drug resistant gram negative bacteria, clostridium difficile among others commonly colonize the hands of healthcare givers. Besides, the normal skin sheds a lot of epithelial cells which contain viable microorganisms. These organisms can easily contaminate equipment within the immediate environment of a patient (Ellingson et al., 2014). Such high rates of hand contamination have reportedly been noted in departments of critical care, the emergency department, surgical unit, and intensive care unit. More often, hands get contaminated possibly by touching the intact skin of a patient, non-living objects within the patient’s environment or when performing clean procedures such as blood pressure recording.Population Description and Health Concerns.

Hospital-acquired infections can be defined as infections which develop while in a healthcare setting within 48 hours or more following hospitalization or 30 days later after having received care (Kingston, O’Connell & Dunne, 2016). These infections have continuously drawn the attention of the federal government, insurers, caregivers, patients, regulatory and professional bodies. This concern is not associated with the high morbidity and mortality rates but rather by the fact that it is a clinical issue that can easily be prevented. Population Description and Health Concerns.

Impact on Population Health Management

According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.7 million patients are admitted annually and acquire nosocomial infections when being treated for other illnesses. Of this population, approximately 10,000 die due to hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, preventing these infections is principal to providing high quality and safe care even in settings which have limited resources (Ellingson et al., 2014). Population Description and Health Concerns.

Nursing science explains several reasons as to why hospital-acquired infections are even more alarming in this century. First, hospitals are admitting huge numbers of sick patients, second, most medical procedures and surgical procedures tend to go beyond the natural protective barriers of the body, last but not least, nurses and physicians move from one patient to another, providing a channel for spreading pathogens. Lastly, most healthcare organizations have sanitation protocols which are related to sterilization of medical equipment and uniforms which are not well implemented, thus not followed (Kingston, O’Connell & Dunne, 2016).  This, therefore, means that, if hospital-acquired infections are to be prevented, a lot of emphasis should be placed on ensuring that sanitation protocols are adhered to.Population Description and Health Concerns.

Limited essential resources within healthcare facilities such as water are also a risk factor for hospital-acquired infections. Thus, in addressing this issue, it should be ensured that healthcare facilities have adequate resources.Population Description and Health Concerns.