Healthcare associated infections in a tertiary care cardiac hospital: A point prevalence survey.

Abstract

Objective: Hospitalized patients can pick infections from healthcare facilities which may lead to extended hospital stay, increased morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients and economic burden on health care. Active surveillance of HAIs that is continuous and prospective in nature has been accepted as a gold standard approach in preventing and controlling healthcare associated infections. To estimate the prevalence HAIs and their types in a tertiary care cardiac center and to identify associated risk factors. Methodology: Nine prospective point prevalence surveys were conducted on three separate days in three consecutive weeks for three months. A data collectors team comprising of two research officers and an infection control nurse, visited the enrolled patients and patient’s history, demographics, physical examination, laboratory findings and other details were reviewed from patient files and recorded on study questionnaire. Results: A total of 559 patients were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of HAIs was 6.4%, which means 36 HAIs were identified in 559 patients. Univariate analysis showed a significant association between HAI and being in ICU/CCU ward (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-7.4) longer duration of hospital stay (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-6.0, P=0.001), exposure to urinary catheter, use of antimicrobials (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-6.1, P=0.006), and diabetes (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.2, P=0.008). Conclusion: Healthcare associated infection is a major public health problem and rate of HAIs in the selected centers was found to be 6.4%. Present survey provided baseline evidence for further surveillance and multifaceted infection.