Nosocomial Infections, Challenges and Threats: A Review Article

Abstract

Nosocomial infections or healthcare associated infections occur in patients under medical care. Infections acquired in hospitals have existed since the very inception of hospitals themselves, and continue to be an important health problem even in the modern era of antibiotics. Today, they result in high morbidity and mortality, extended hospitalization, greater use of antibiotics, and increased costs. The overuse and inappropriate consumption and application of antibiotics have driven the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant drugs (MDR) pathogens. Combating MDRs which cause serious life threatening nosocomial infections and appear to be biologically compatible with their environment, are difficult to manage due to the limited treatment options. The worldwide emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) among Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria has caused a great threat to fight the bacterial pathogens. It is clear that in the lack of a timely, efficient solution the challenge of antibiotic resistance becomes alarming and will cause a great challenge in the forthcoming years. In this review article we will discuss the most important MDR nosocomial infection agents, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as major threats throughout the world.

Keywords

• nosocomial infections
• antibiotics
• multidrug-resistant drugs
• healthcare
• pathogens