Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in Dutch long-term care facilities from 2009 to 2019

Abstract

We assessed trends in the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) and associated resident and facility characteristics in a national network of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in the Netherlands in 2009-2019. Participating LTCFs registered the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), gastrointestinal infection (GI), bacterial conjunctivitis, sepsis and skin infection, using standardized definitions, in biannual point-prevalence surveys (PPS). In addition, resident and LTCF characteristics were collected. Multilevel analyses were performed to study changes in the HCAI prevalence over time and to identify resident and LTCF-related risk factors. Analyses were performed for HCAI overall and for UTI, LRTI and GI combined as these were recorded throughout the period. Overall, 1353 HCAIs were registered in 44,551 residents with a prevalence of 3.0% (95% confidence interval: 2.8-3.1; range between years 2.3%-5.1%). When including only UTI, LRTI and GI the prevalence decreased from 5.0% in 2009 to 2.1% in 2019. Multivariable regression analyses for UTI, LRTI and GI combined indicated that both prolonged participation and calendar time were independently associated with HCAI prevalence; in LTCFs that participated ≥ 4 years, the HCAI risk was decreased (OR 0.72 [0.57-0.92]) compared with the first year, and the OR per calendar year was 0.93 [0.88-0.97]. Over eleven years of PPS in LTCFs the HCAI prevalence decreased over time. Prolonged participation further reduced the HCAI prevalence, in particular UTI, despite the increasing age and associated frailty of the LTCF population, illustrating the potential value of surveillance.