Knowledge and Practice toward Hospital-acquired Infection among House Surgeons in a Tertiary Care Hospital, South Kerala

Original researchsuch as thermometers, cell phones, and especially bronchoscopes have been shown to host disease-causing organisms.The pathogens most frequently associated with nosocomial infections are gram-negative rods, including E. coli, Pseudomonas species, and Enterobacter species, as well as gram-positive cocci, such as S. aureus and Enterococci.Recent evidence has expanded this list to include vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter species, alongside Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which are often found contaminating various hospital surfaces. 3 IntroductIonHospital-acquired infection (HAI), which is also referred to as nosocomial infection, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "an infection acquired in hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than that infection."This definition covers occupational infections contracted by facility staff and includes infections that manifest after a patient has been discharged. 1 Infections are typically classified as nosocomial if they surface at least 48-72 hours following admission, 3-10 days after leaving the hospital, 30 days postsurgery, or up to a year after an implant procedure.Hospital-acquired infection represents a significant global challenge.This issue is particularly pronounced in low and middleincome nations compared to more developed ones.Developing countries face a risk of contracting a nosocomial infection that is reportedly up to 20 times higher than in developed countries. 2These illnesses are generally caused by viruses or bacteria.Transmission pathways include direct human contact between a healthcare worker (HCW) and a patient, contact with infected surfaces or fomites, airborne routes via droplets or aerosols, and contamination through food or water.Numerous scientific studies confirm that common hospital objects harbor highly pathogenic and resistant microorganisms.These pathogens are found not only on facility objects but also on fundamental components of a physician's uniform, such as identity badges, white coats, and stethoscopes.Furthermore, instruments