Nosocomial Pneumonia Following Hospital Admission

Hospitals are commonly perceived as the most sterile environments. In recent years, however, there has been a growing concern over the health status of hospitals, especially in terms of the spread of infection. While the risks for long term illness are quite low, as a patient who has been hospitalized, or may become hospitalized, it is important to understand these risk factors.

A particular health risk for many hospitalized patients involved the development of nosocomial pneumonia. With nosocomial pneumonia, you may develop pneumonia 48 hours after a hospital admission with no symptoms of this health complication at the time of your admission. As the second most common hospital based infection, nosocomial pneumonia is a significant risk for many patients who require respiratory assistance during hospital admission.

If you, or someone you love, has been hospitalized, it is important to understand the risks associated with infection. Nosocomial pneumonia can be acquired during intubation or in spontaneous breathing. With aspiration as key complication that leads to nosocomial pneumonia, hospital staff are usually well trained in preventing these types of health complications. Unfortunately, not all health risks can be avoided.

To reduce the risks for acquiring nosocomial pneumonia, it is important that both the hospital staff as well as your visitors wash their hands regularly when visiting with you during hospital admission. While lying flat on your back may be a preferred resting method in the hospital, it is usually not recommended. Sitting and sleeping with the hospital bed slightly elevated will assist in reducing the risk for acquiring nosocomial pneumonia. Ask about the antibiotics used as, in many cases, if your physician orders too many antibiotics, you may experience a risk for acquiring this form of pneumonia as well.