Magnitude of Health Care Associated Infections and its Clinical Predictors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Health care-acquired infections (HCAIs) are the growing global public health problems facing today requiring an immediate collaborative action of stockholders to be prevented and controlled. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the magnitude and clinical related factors of HCAIs in Ethiopia.

Methods: Articles were extensively searched in bibliographic databases and grey literatures using entry terms or phrases. Studies meeting eligibility criteria was extracted in Ms excel and exported in to STATA version 17 software for statistical analysis. A random-effect model was used to compute the pooled magnitude of HCAIs using meta-prop. The heterogeneity was quantified by using the I² value. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis, meta-regression and subgroup analysis were computed.

Result: Of the 1707 studies identified, 33 studies were selected for meta-analysis of magnitude of HCAIs. The overall pooled prevalence of HCAIs in Ethiopia was 37% (95% CI: 27.0-47.0%). The predominant bacterial aetiologies were E. coli. There was no single study effect and publication bias. Diabetes mellitus, comorbidities, contaminated wound, history of UTI and history of admission in ICU were statistically significant clinical predictors of HCAIs.

Conclusion: the pooled prevalence of HCAIs have alarmingly increased which underscores the importance of implementation of personalized infection prevention and control approach which identifies patients at risk of HCAIs from the point of admission maximizes the potential for prevention of HCAIs.