This 7-year longitudinal survey (2017-2023) assessed the point prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs) at a first-class tertiary hospital in China, both prior to and during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients were stratified into prepandemic and pandemic periods, as well as into stringent and relaxed infection prevention and control (IPC) phases, to compare the point prevalence of HAIs and CAIs. The overall point prevalence of HAIs was 1.50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32%-1.71%), showing a significant downward trend (P=.021). Among patients receiving pathogen testing, the point prevalence of HAIs significantly declined during the pandemic (6.26% vs9.89%, P<.001). The point prevalence of CAIs demonstrated a notable increase in 2023 compared with 2020 to 2022 among pathogen-tested patients (81.37% vs74.18%, P=.001). Multivariate analysis identified hospitalization during the pandemic as a protective factor against HAIs (adjusted odds ratio 0.49, 95% CI, 0.36-0.67). The comprehensive IPC strategy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic at this tertiary hospital significantly reduced the point prevalence of HAIs. However, CAIs exhibited a rising trend following the relaxation of COVID-19 IPC measures.
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