Question

To what extent are healthcare associated infections a product of larger socioeconomic factors?

Answer 1

Ans) For example, patient characteristics, such as, age or underlying diseases or conditions that may compromise the immune system; presence of indwelling or invasive medical devices, such as catheters or breathing tubes; complications from surgical procedures; and antibiotic use.

- Some patients are at greater risk than others-young children, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are more likely to get an infection. Other risk factors are long hospital stays, the use of indwelling catheters, failure of healthcare workers to wash their hands, and overuse of antibiotics.

- Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher mortality, and the greatest disparities occur in middle adulthood (ages 45–65).