Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial infections can develop in connection with medical interventions in hospitals, care facilities, surgeries, etc. They can be attributed to various causes and can be divided into three categories:

• Patient factors:

Patient factors include all personal factors such as state of health, age, malnutrition and surgical wounds. For example, if the immune system is already weakened by previous illnesses, the body is more susceptible to infectious agents.

• Technology:

Medical equipment such as catheters, dialysis machines or ventilators pose a risk of infection for the patient.

• Human factors:

Poor hygiene among hospital staff can be a possible trigger of an infectious event.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on a daily basis, one in 31 patients is infected with an infection that they contract in hospital. The risk of infection is particularly high in intensive care units. In Germany, 1,200 nosocomial outbreaks were registered in 2014. It is estimated that 15,000 patients die each year from infections that they contract in hospitals.

However, infections with pathogens that are resistant to a large number of antibiotics (multi-resistant) and are therefore very difficult to treat are particularly problematic – for example, MRSA (methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Raising hospital staff awareness of hygiene measures and hygiene control regulations have shown that nosocomial infections can be drastically reduced.

Prompt screening for nosocomial pathogens with appropriate hygiene measures is necessary to prevent further spread and to identify sources of infection and chains of infection.

Detection Methods

CONGEN manufactures medical devices in accordance with DIN ISO 13485 that enable rapid detection of various human pathogens. The products for the detection of nosocomial infections are available worldwide through R-Biopharm.

The multiplex real-time PCR kits within the RIDA^®GENE product line detect the most important pathogens through simple and rapid screening. In addition to specific pathogen detection, the sensitive tests include an internal control (ICD or ICR). This control is used for extraction and/or amplification control. Since the tests can be used on all common real-time devices and have the same temperature profile, it is possible to check several parameters with one PCR test.

CONGEN manufactures medical devices in accordance with DIN ISO 13485 that enable rapid detection of various human pathogens. As required by DIN ISO 13485, the CE-certified tests are evaluated through regular participation in INSTAND and QCMD Proficiency Tests.

The products for the detection of nosocomial infections are available worldwide through R-Biopharm.

Available test kits