Incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and the adherence to the HAIs’ prevention strategies in a military hospital in Alkharj

Abstract

Background Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are considered one of the most common adverse events in health care service provision. In order to prevent the occurrence of HAIs, it is important to implement several prevention strategies. Objectives This study aims to determine the incidence of healthcare-associated infections in a military hospital in Alkharj and the adherence to the HAIs’ prevention strategies. Methods This study included exporting data for all infected cases confirmed by the infection disease specialists in 2019. The data were collected from the reports that were written by infection control unit and infectious disease department. Results The rate of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in 2019 was 0.43% of total patient admissions. The rate of central line associated bloodstream infections in 2019 was 1.15 per 1000 central line days. The rate of catheter associated urinary tract infections in 2019 was 1.00 per 1000 catheter days. The rate of ventilator associated pneumonia in 2019 was 2.11 per 1000 ventilator days and the rate of surgical site infections in 2019 was 0.41 %. Conclusion The rate of overall healthcare-associated infections (HAI) was low. The compliance rate of health care workers to preventive measures that control HAIs was generally high but there was a need for more awareness particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. So it is important to attend more awareness activities and workshops particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. Furthermore, infection control unit and infectious disease department in the hospital should support the robust HAI prevention programs.

Epidemiology of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Adherence to the HAI Prevention Strategies

“…The average rate of VAP in 2021 was 1.1 per 1000 ventilator days. In 2019, there were 2.11 ventilator-associated pneumonia cases per 1000 ventilator days, according to Ahmed et al [7]. Similarly, Gaid et al observed that VAP was the device-associated HAI that was most common (57.4%) [33].…”

“…The rate of surgical site infections in the present study was 0.1%. According to Ahmed et al, the rate of surgical site infection in a military hospital in Alkharj was 0.41% in 2019 [7]. At a hospital in Makkah, SSI rates were 1.9%, according to a paper by Haseeb et al [28].…”

“…The average rate of CLABSI was 2.6 per 1000 central line days. According to Ahmed et al, only 10% of all device-associated HAIs were bloodstream infections linked to central lines [7]. According to Gaid et al, 14.2% of all device-associated HAI were CLABSI [33].…”

“…The average rate of CAUTI in 2021 was 0.76 per 1000 catheter days. In 2019, there were 1.00 catheter-associated UTIs for every 1000 catheter days in a military hospital in Alkharj, according to Ahmed et al [7]. Approximately 28.4% of all device-associated HAIs had CAUTI, according to Gaid et al [33].…”

“…An infection at the surgical site appears after surgery in the body portion where the procedure was performed [6]. Infections that are resistant to drugs are also included in HAIs [7].…”