Tayyaba Ijaz

An Epidemiological Study of Nosocomial Infections Tayyaba Ijaz

Various types of nosocomial infections are acquired by hospitalized patients after 48-72 hours of their admission, in addition to their prior ailments. The immuno suppressed, immuno compromised and even the patients with normal immune system are vulnerable to nosocomial infections under certain circumstances. The potential impact of nosocomial infections is considerable in terms of incidence, morbidity, mortality, and financial burden (Wenzel R P, 2003). Nosocomial infections have been a serious problem ever since sick patients first congregated in the hospitals (Semmelweiss, 1861; Nightingale, 1863; Simpson and Spensor, 1869). Interest in nosocomial infection grew at a very rapid rate from earlier twentieth century, when new basis of hospital infections was reported, and alarming increase in the number of serious cases of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in hospitals were noted (Cruickshank, 1935). Urinary tract infections (UTI) are considered to be the most common infections which are acquired from the hospitals. The causal pathogens of those infections have been reported as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. Proteus spp.