The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nosocomial infections: a retrospective analysis in a tertiary maternal and child healthcare hospital

Abstract

ObjectiveThe constant changes in the control strategies of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have greatly affected the prevention and control of nosocomial infections (NIs). This study assessed the impact of these control strategies on the surveillance of NIs in a regional maternity hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis retrospective study compared the observation indicators of nosocomial infections and their changing trends in the hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsIn total, 2,56,092 patients were admitted to the hospital during the study. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. The detection rate of S. agalactiae increased annually, while that of E. faecalis remained the same. The detection rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria decreased during the pandemic (16.86 vs. 11.42%), especially that of CRKP (carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae 13.14 vs. 4.39, P < 0.001). The incidence of nosocomial infections in the pediatric surgery department decreased significantly (OR: 2.031, 95% CI: 1.405–2.934, P < 0.001). Regarding the source of infection, a significant reduction was observed in respiratory infections, followed by gastrointestinal infections. In the routine monitoring of the ICU, the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) decreased significantly (9.4/1,000 catheter days vs. 2.2/1,000 catheter days, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe incidence of nosocomial infections was lower than that before the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the number of nosocomial infections, especially respiratory, gastrointestinal, and catheter-related infections.

Hand hygiene: a call to ‘all hands on deck’

“…10 A large maternal and children's hospital at Fuzhou, Fujian, China also reported a significant decline in both nosocomial infections and multidrug resistant bacteria. 11 Sadly today there is still a false perception that 'Doctors hands are clean' and this is evident from health service hand hygiene reports that show medical practitioners to be amongst the worst performing healthcare workers (Fig. 2).…”