Hospital-acquired infections in autoimmune patients: A 5-year retrospective study from a referral hospital in northern Iran

Nosocomial infections (NIs) represent a major healthcare challenge, particularly in immunocompromised populations such as patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and bacterial etiology of NIs in hospitalized AID patients in northern Iran. In this retrospective cross-sectional over a six-year period (2018–2024) a total of 37 patients diagnosed with both autoimmune conditions and hospital-acquired infections were included. The mean age of patients was 54.3 ± 16.9 years, with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common underlying disease. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were the predominant NI (54.1%), followed by bloodstream (21.6%), respiratory (18.9%), and skin/soft tissue infections (5.4%). Gram-negative bacteria were the leading pathogens, with Klebsiella spp. (40.5%) most frequently isolated. These findings highlight the high prevalence of UTIs and Gram-negative bacterial infections in hospitalized AID patients. The predominance of multidrug-resistant organisms underscores the need for targeted infection prevention strategies and robust antimicrobial stewardship.