Abstract
Health care-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance constitute a major public health challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of HAIs and antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals in Kosovo. A multicenter study was performed in all hospitals in Kosovo. The standardized protocol for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) on HAIs and antimicrobial use developed by European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) was used for this survey. A total of 915 patients were included in PPS. Countrywide prevalence rate of HAIs was 4.9%. The highest rate was noticed in tertiary care level in University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK) (7.2%). The most common type of HAI was surgical site infection, representing 35.5% of all reported HAIs. Prevalence of HAIs was highest in surgical departments (46.6%). The median length of stay before onset of HAI was 11 days (range: 3-27 days). Gram negative bacteria were the predominant microorganisms (61% of cases). From all patients, 520 (56.8%) of them were using at least one antibiotic. Ceftriaxone was the most prescribed antibiotic with 40.3%. Antibiotics were administered mainly through parenteral route (93.8%). Empiric treatment was the physician’s choice for prescribing in 87.1%. The main reason for antibiotic treatment was pneumonia (19.8%). Medical prophylaxis was reported in 10% of antibiotic prescriptions. Key recommendations driven by this study are to improve surveillance systems of HAI and antibiotic use, enhance infection prevention and control and establish antimicrobial stewardship program.
Highlights
Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance constitute a major public health problem world-Lul Raka,[1,2] Gazmend Spahija,[3] Agreta Gashi-Gecaj,[3] Astrit Hamza,[2,3] Edita Haxhiu,[1] Albiona Rashiti,[1] Gëzim Rrahimi,[3] Selvete Hyseni,[3] Nicola Petrosillo[4]Kosovo, with a population of 1.7 million inhabitants is located in the south-east of Europe in the Western Balkans region
Of 16 patients surveyed, 11 patients had a total of 18 HCAI, of which ventilator associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 8 patients.[8]
Key recommendations driven by of 26.3 DDD (Defined Daily Doses/1000 estimate the prevalence rates and main feathis study are to improve surveillance sys- inhabitants/day); holds sixth place for tures of HCAIs and antimicrobial use in tems of Health care-associated infections e (HAIs) and antibiotic use, enhance cephalosporin consumption (DDD 4.0) and acute care hospitals in Kosovo and to ideninfection prevention and control and estab- is the European champion with the highest tify the main targets for quality improvelish antimicrobial stewardship program
Summary
Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance constitute a major public health problem world-. Of 16 patients surveyed, 11 patients had a total of 18 HCAI, of which ventilator associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 8 patients.[8] Key recommendations driven by of 26.3 DDD (Defined Daily Doses/1000 estimate the prevalence rates and main feathis study are to improve surveillance sys- inhabitants/day); holds sixth place for tures of HCAIs and antimicrobial use in tems of HAI and antibiotic use, enhance cephalosporin consumption (DDD 4.0) and acute care hospitals in Kosovo and to ideninfection prevention and control and estab- is the European champion with the highest tify the main targets for quality improvelish antimicrobial stewardship program.
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