Infectious Diseases

Hospital-Acquired Infections (Nosocomial Infections)

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as nosocomial infections, occur during a patient’s stay in a healthcare setting and are not present at the time of admission. Common HAIs include bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. These infections often result from invasive procedures, improper sterilization, or antibiotic resistance, and they contribute significantly to patient morbidity, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. This session will focus on infection control practices, antimicrobial stewardship, hand hygiene compliance, and the role of surveillance systems in identifying and mitigating HAIs. Discussions will also address innovations in hospital design, staff training, and technology-driven solutions like AI-assisted outbreak detection. Strengthening hospital infection control protocols is essential to improve patient safety and limit the spread of resistant pathogens.