The Prevalence of Health Care-Associated Infections and Risk Factors in a University Hospital

Greta Gailienė,Aušra Macijauskienė,Zita Gierasimovič,Daiva Petruševičienė

doi:10.3390/medicina48080059

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of health care-associated infections, risk factors, and antimicrobial use. The study was carried out as a point-prevalence study in acute care wards, i.e., intensive care, surgical, and medical wards, at Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos in April 2010. The study variables included the patient's general data, indwelling devices, surgery, infection and its microbiological investigation, and antimicrobial use. All the variables that were logically related or had a P value of <0.25 in the univariate analysis were included in the stepwise logistic regression in order to study the factors potentially associated with health care-associated infections. A total of 731 patients were surveyed. The overall prevalence rate of health care-associated infections was 3.8%. The prevalence of health care-associated infections differed by hospital wards (range 0.0%-19.2%). The lower respiratory tract (32.2%), urinary tract (28.5%), and surgical site infections (32.1%) were the most common health care-associated infections. Moreover, 89.3% of the cases of health care-associated infections were microbiologically investigated. Staphylococcus aureus (28.6%) and Escherichia coli (19.1%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. The use of one or more invasive devices was recorded in 332 patients (45.4%). Of the surveyed patients, 20.2% received antimicrobial agents. The most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents were fluoroquinolones (21.1%), broad-spectrum penicillins (19.1%), and first- or second-generation cephalosporins (18.6%). The prevalence of health care-associated infections was found to be similar to the reported overall prevalence rate of health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals in Lithuania.

Highlights

The prevalence of health care-associated infections was found to be similar to the reported overall prevalence rate of health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals in Lithuania
Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) are infections occurring after exposure to health care, often, but not always, as a consequence of this exposure [1]
The distribution of HCAIs according to the site of infection showed that the most frequent HCAIs in the present study were lower respiratory tract infections followed by surgical site infections

Summary

Introduction

Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) ( referred to as hospital-acquired infections or nosocomial infections) are infections occurring after exposure to health care, often, but not always, as a consequence of this exposure [1]. HCAIs refer to a special group of infectious diseases characterized by their epidemiological patterns and complexity of prevention. The prevention and control of HCAIs is closely related to the quality of health care, and these infections are an important public health threat in Europe and globally [1]. Prevalence surveys performed in Europe have shown an overall prevalence of HCAIs of 3.5%–10.5% [2,3,4,5,6]. The surveillance of HCAIs is an important component of an effective infection control program and can reduce up to one-third of HCAIs [7]. Prevalence studies can be a useful part of a surveillance system as an easy and inexpensive way to evaluate the Medicina (Kaunas) 2012;48(8)

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