Information Technology Systems for Infection Control in German University Hospitals—Results of a Structured Survey a Year into the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Background Digitalization is playing a major role in mastering the current coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, several outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in German hospitals last year have shown that many of the surveillance and warning mechanisms related to infection control (IC) in hospitals need to be updated. Objectives The main objective of the following work was to assess the state of information technology (IT) systems supporting IC and surveillance in German university hospitals in March 2021, almost a year into the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods As part of the National Research Network for Applied Surveillance and Testing project within the Network University Medicine, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the situation of IC IT systems in 36 university hospitals in Germany. Results Among the most prominent findings were the lack of standardization of IC IT systems and the predominant use of commercial IC IT systems, while the vast majority of hospitals reported inadequacies in the features their IC IT systems provide for their daily work. However, as the pandemic has shown that there is a need for systems that can help improve health care, several German university hospitals have already started this upgrade independently. Conclusions The deep challenges faced by the German health care sector regarding the integration and interoperability of IT systems designed for IC and surveillance are unlikely to be solved through punctual interventions and require collaboration between educational, medical, and administrative institutions.