Cross Infections: Types, Causes & Prevention

Cross infection is the transmission of an infectious agent from one person to another because of a poor barrier protection as in patients and immunocompromised hosts. The most common are nosocomial cross infections, which are acquired at a hospital or other healthcare facilities such as outpatient clinics. This book analyses infection control for healthcare workers, epidemiologists, administrations and those responsible for infection control programmes at healthcare facilities. Most carriers of infections are unaware of their condition and therefore it is important that prevention of cross-infection routine is adopted for all patients. The prevention of cross transmission of respiratory viral pathogens in paediatric cancer patients with conventional chemotherapy is also explored. Paediatric cancer patients face an increased risk of potentially life-threatening infectious complications due to their underlying malignancy and to the adverse effects of intensive anticancer treatment. This book further delves into the various aspects of catheter-related infections (CRI) such as diagnosis, incidence, aetiology, pathogenesis and recommended preventive measures. Other chapters in this book focus on the newly emerging CA-MRSA strains which have caused serious community-acquired infections in otherwise healthy children, an examination of the pathogenesis and microbial properties that contribute to the persistence of S aureus in dairy cattle herds, a review of the multi-drug resistant pathogens that are common in patients with severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a discussion of the microbes which cause cross infections and are resistant to antimicrobial agents, and thus present a challenge in treatment and prevention.