Nosocomial infections are infections contracted in hospitals or other healthcare facilities that are absent at the time of hospitalization of the patient. It is also known as hospital-acquired infections. It includes infections that become symptomatic after patient discharge, as well as infections among medical personnel. Most nosocomial infections are transmitted by medical service personnel who do not adequately wash their hands or change gloves between contacts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Standard safety measures are based on the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions, discharges, excrements, non-contact skin, and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents. These standard precautions include hand washing, use of appropriate protective equipment, use of aseptic techniques to reduce patient exposure to microorganisms, and management of sharps, blood spills, linens, and waste to maintain a safe environment. Compliance by health care professionals, including health students with standard precautions has been recognized as an effective means of preventing and controlling hospital-acquired infections. These measures protect not only the patient but also the healthcare worker and the environment. Among the recommended standard precautions, hand hygiene itself is considered the most important. Proper use of gloves; whose purpose is to protect both the healthcare worker and the patient is another important measure. A preventive measure worth mentioning is also the adoption of safe measures for handling needle sticks and other sharp objects in view of the possibility of epidemics, especially hepatitis b and c. In Ghana, where little data is available on the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections, assessing the necessary knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding infection prevention capabilities in healthcare facilities as early as possible can help manage the limited resources available in the sector for healthcare workers and customers. The high prevalence of HIV and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, shortages of resources and disinfectants, and widespread antimicrobial resistance create serious risks for healthcare-associated infections. With the increasing rate of infectious diseases, including HIV, the environment in which healthcare workers work can be dangerous, risky and stressful, which could interfere with the adequate and appropriate provision of healthcare. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year unsafe injections and needlestick injuries cause at least 8-16 million HBV infections, 2.3-4.7 million HCV and 160,000 HIV/AIDS infections. WHO estimates that no less than 50% of the 12 billion shots administered each year in low-income countries are unsafe and pose a serious health risk to patients, healthcare workers, medical students and the general population . Sharps injuries have been linked to the transmission of more than 40 pathogens including hepatitis B and C and HIV. The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium also estimates that 16.8 out of 1,000 patients on ventilators contract pneumonia in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Similarly, the catheter-associated risk of urinary tract infection was 5.5 per 1000 patients. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Standard precautions are practiced in high-income countries to protect healthcare workers.