ABSTRACT
Background: This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare-associated infection (HAI) incidence in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
Methods: Patients from 7 LMICs were followed during hospital intensive care unit (ICU) stays throughout January 2019 to May 2020. HAI rates were calculated using the INICC Surveillance Online System applying CDC-NHSN criteria. Pre-COVID-19 rates for 2019 were compared to COVID-19 era rates for 2020 for central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABs), catheter associated urinary tract
infections (CAUTIs), ventilator associated events (VAEs), mortality and lengths of stay (LOS).
Results: 7,775 patients were followed for 49,506 bed-days. 2019 to 2020 rate
comparisons: 2.54 and 4.73 CLABSIs per 1,000 central line days (RR=1.85, p =0.0006), 9.71 and 12.58 VAEs per 1,000 mechanical ventilator days (RR=1.29, p =0.10), 1.64 and 1.43 CAUTIs per 1,000 urinary catheter days (RR=1.14; p = 0.69).
Mortality rates were 15.2% and 23.2% for 2019 and 2020 (RR=1.42; p < 0.0001).
Mean LOS were 6.02 and 7.54 days (RR=1.21, p < 0.0001).
Discussion: This report documents a rise in HAI rates in 7 LMICs during the first 5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the need to reprioritize and return to conventional infection prevention practices.
 

Title

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Publisher

ScienceDirect

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

3.623

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

--

Year

2022

Pages

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