Epidemiology of notifiable outbreaks in different hospital units in Saudi Arabia: A national descriptive study

IF 4.7 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2025-01-22 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102678

Nawal M. Alanazi , Nasser H. Alshanbari , Hala M. Roushdy , Yahya I. Alnshbah , Eman Ali Barnawi , Nawaf M. Almatrafi , Rula Felemban , Zainah M. Al Shahrani , Nadeen Burhan , Aiman El-Saed , Khalid H. Alanazi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Healthcare-associated outbreaks have serious impacts on patient morbidity and mortality, and healthcare resources. The objective was to describe the epidemiology of healthcare outbreaks notified to the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) over a year.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of national data collected through timely notifications to the MOH during 2023. Data included hospital and patient information. Healthcare outbreaks were defined as per the MOH outbreak manual. Outbreaks notified by 117 MOH hospitals and 53 private hospitals in 20 Saudi regions were included.

Results

A total of 1240 outbreaks were notified, including 2392 patients, 2703 infections, and 806 deaths. Males represented 62.3 % of the patients, and the average age was 51.2 ± 27.7 years. Almost all patients had devices: central line (63.6 %), foley catheters (52.7 %), or mechanical ventilation (50.4 %). More than 70 % of the outbreaks occurred in intensive care units and two-thirds were manifested as infection. The main device-associated infections were central line-associated bloodstream infection (38.5 %) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (39.0 %). The main pathogens were Candida auris (29.9 %), Klebsiella spp. (24.5 %), Acinetobacter baumanni (19.6 %) and Pseudomonas spp. (7.7 %). More than 60 % of the bacteria were resistant, including Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (32.5 %), multidrug-resistant bacteria (26.4 %), and Extended spectrum B-lactamases (23.0 %). Approximately 33.7 % of the patients died, 24.1 % cured, 19.3 % transferred, and 17.0 % discharged.

Conclusions

Outbreaks caused by Gram-negative bacteria and Candida auris remain the main challenge in Saudi hospitals, representing 90 % of the outbreaks. The high resistance of causative pathogens and high associated mortality underscore the importance of strict implementation of infection control measures.

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.