 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that develop during, or soon after, a person has been in a healthcare setting. These infections are widely recognized as a serious problem. Many are preventable.
HAIs can occur in all settings of care including hospitals, doctor's offices, same-day surgical centers, ambulatory outpatient care in healthcare clinics, and in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities, and can also result from home-care visits by a health professional.
HAIs happen when infectious agents, such as bacteria, enter a patient's body. The infections are often associated with the use of medical devices such as catheters and ventilators, surgical procedures, transmission between patients and healthcare workers, and overuse of antibiotics. Healthcare-associated infections are a significant cause of illness and deaths in hospitals.
Common types of HAIs include:
Outbreaks of norovirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also occur in healthcare settings.
