Point Prevalence Survey of HAIs as a key component of Infection Prevention and Control programs

Abstract Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) are a global concern, requiring surveillance strategies as Point Prevalence Surveys (PPS) to estimate their burden and investigate associated risk factors for targeted interventions in high-risk areas. This study aims to assess the prevalence of HAIs, identify determinants and evaluate antimicrobial use in a teaching hospital in Rome. A PPS was carried out from June 19th to 23rd, 2023, in accordance with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) protocol for HAIs and antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals (version 6.1). Pearson’s chi-squared test was employed to investigate correlations between potential risk factors and HAIs. The survey included 829 patients with an average age of 56.3 years (SD: ±24.6). Of these, 48.4% were female and over half had visited the hospital’s Emergency Department (53.7%). The prevalence of active HAIs was 8.7%, with 72 patients diagnosed. Furthermore, 51.0% of all patients received at least one systemic antimicrobial agent, and 16.7% of those treated had an HAI. Penicillins (39.7%) and third-generation cephalosporins (37.8%) were the most frequently prescribed antimicrobials. The primary HAIs were bloodstream infections (34.1%), followed by urinary tract (27.3%), surgical site (23.9%), lower respiratory tract (6.8%), and gastrointestinal infections (7.9%). Escherichia coli (13.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.2%), and Clostridium difficile (6.6%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens. Intensive Care Unit admission, use of medical device, recent antibiotic therapy and prior hospitalization or surgery significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with increased HAIs risk. The detected prevalence of HAIs is lower than the national rates observed in 2022 (10.2%), which have increased since 2016. HAIs surveillance is essential for developing effective infection prevention and control programs and for optimizing resource allocation in hospital settings. Key messages • Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections is crucial for developing targeted Infection Prevention and Control programs and optimizing hospital resource allocation. • Point Prevalence Surveys offer essential information for assessing the burden of Healthcare-Associated Infections and directing intervention strategies in hospitals.