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

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections are widely considered one of the most common unfavorable outcomes of healthcare delivery. Ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections are examples of healthcare-associated infections. The current study was a retrospective study conducted at a public hospital in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia, to investigate the frequency of healthcare-associated illnesses and adherence to healthcare-associated infection prevention techniques in the year 2021. Surgical site infections occurred at a rate of 0.1%. The average number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections per 1000 catheter days was 0.76. The average number of central line-associated bloodstream infections per 1000 central line days was 2.6. The rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 1.1 per 1000 ventilator days on average. The average number of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms per 1000 patient days was 2.8. Compliance rates were 94%, 100%, 99%, and 76% for ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and hand hygiene bundles, respectively. It is critical to participate in more educational events and workshops, particularly those that emphasize hand cleanliness and personal safety equipment.