Implementation of infection prevention and control components in Italian hospitals based on a nationwide survey on behalf of INSIEME project

We aim to assess the state-of-the-art of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices and their results in Italian healthcare facilities 6 years after the kick-off of the new National Plan for the Control of Antibiotic Resistance (PNCAR). This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study conducted between January 1st, and December 31st, 2023, among Italian hospitals. Survey questions were readapted from the WHO IPC assessment framework (IPCAF), PNCAR and INSIEME group proposals, resulting in 155 questions grouped into six sections: IPC program, surveillance, control activities for healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies, IPC training and education, and monitoring indicators. Thirty-eight acute care Hospitals completed the survey (response rate: 30%): 26.3% of hospitals did not define an annual program and 34.2% an AMS task force. Periodic microbiology reports were available for 57.9%, hospital alcohol-based hand rubs consumption per 1000 bed-days in 42.1% and defined daily dose of antimicrobials per 100 bed-days in 55.3% hospitals with a significant difference between Northern and Southern regions (90.9% vs 22.2%; P = 0.006). Active monitoring of hand hygiene and contact isolation compliance was implemented in only half of the hospitals. Structured HAI surveillance systems were implemented in fewer than 20% of hospitals. Components on IPC implementation activity, such as no-touch sanitizing systems, checklist for environmental cleaning, informatic flags, bundles for pathogens revealed the lowest score. The appropriateness of antibiotic therapy prescribing was assessed in 73.7% of facilities. Only 42.1% of hospitals had budget goals. This survey provides a baseline assessment and identifies key barriers to the implementation of IPC programs across Italian acute care hospitals. The findings highlight priority areas for intervention and will inform the next phase of the INSIEME project, which aims to develop and implement tailored strategies that address the specific needs of healthcare workers and institutions nationwide.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2025-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20893-y
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Infection Control in Healthcare
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.40

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article

Implementation of infection prevention and control components in Italian hospitals based on a nationwide survey on behalf of INSIEME project

Chiara Fanelli, Vincenzo Scaglione, Miriam Lichtner, Sabina Bellu et al.
1 citations
Scientific Reports
Infection Control in Healthcare
1.40
article

Implementation of infection prevention and control components in Italian hospitals based on a nationwide survey on behalf of INSIEME project

Chiara Fanelli, Vincenzo Scaglione, Miriam Lichtner, Sabina Bellu, Raffaella Rubino, Stefania Cicalini, Alessandra Prozzo, Clarissa Camaioni, Caterina Monari, Francesco Almerigogna, Paola Toselli, Sabrina Audagnotto, Loredana Sarmati, Chiara Iaria, Elena Mazzotta, Pierantonio Grimaldi, Enrico Ricchizzi, Goffredo Angioni, Emmanuele Venanzi Rullo, Ilaria Spalliera, Paola Tanzilli, Ottavia Viganò, Matteo Lupi, Luisa Frallonardo, Claudia Imburgia, Chiara Montrucchio, Marco Falcone, Cesare Bolla, Claudia Fortuna, Andrea Soddu, Rita Murri, Giuseppe Pipitone, Blerta Kertusha, Marianna Meschiari, Emanuele Pontali, Nicola Esposito, Manuela Pogliaghi, Antonina Franco, Antonio Cascio, Luisa Marletta, Benedetta Romanin, Massimo Andreoni, Simona Coladonato, Alberico Parente, Roberto Parrella, Anna Maria Rossomando, Ornella Campanella, Giacomo Ciusa, Nicola Coppola, Donatella Concetta Cibelli, Felice Pecoraro, A Listro, Silvia Di Bari, Altea Gallerani, Lorenzo Onorato, Michelle Abbott, Andrea Gizzi, Giulia Marchetti, Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Andrea Marıno, Alessandra Oliva, Cristina Mussini, Francesco Di Gennaro, Silvia Boni, Pietro Vitale, Angelo Pan, Paola Brambilla, Annamaria Cattelan, Andrea Tosti, Alessia Di Vincenzo, Cosmo Del Borgo, Rosa Fontana Del Vecchio, Alessandra Mularoni, Roberto Castoldi, Claudio Mastroianni, Anna Carretta, Daniela Francisci, Annachiara Bolliri, Sabrina Zocco
article en
1 citations

Abstract

We aim to assess the state-of-the-art of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices and their results in Italian healthcare facilities 6 years after the kick-off of the new National Plan for the Control of Antibiotic Resistance (PNCAR). This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study conducted between January 1st, and December 31st, 2023, among Italian hospitals. Survey questions were readapted from the WHO IPC assessment framework (IPCAF), PNCAR and INSIEME group proposals, resulting in 155 questions grouped into six sections: IPC program, surveillance, control activities for healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies, IPC training and education, and monitoring indicators. Thirty-eight acute care Hospitals completed the survey (response rate: 30%): 26.3% of hospitals did not define an annual program and 34.2% an AMS task force. Periodic microbiology reports were available for 57.9%, hospital alcohol-based hand rubs consumption per 1000 bed-days in 42.1% and defined daily dose of antimicrobials per 100 bed-days in 55.3% hospitals with a significant difference between Northern and Southern regions (90.9% vs 22.2%; P = 0.006). Active monitoring of hand hygiene and contact isolation compliance was implemented in only half of the hospitals. Structured HAI surveillance systems were implemented in fewer than 20% of hospitals. Components on IPC implementation activity, such as no-touch sanitizing systems, checklist for environmental cleaning, informatic flags, bundles for pathogens revealed the lowest score. The appropriateness of antibiotic therapy prescribing was assessed in 73.7% of facilities. Only 42.1% of hospitals had budget goals. This survey provides a baseline assessment and identifies key barriers to the implementation of IPC programs across Italian acute care hospitals. The findings highlight priority areas for intervention and will inform the next phase of the INSIEME project, which aims to develop and implement tailored strategies that address the specific needs of healthcare workers and institutions nationwide.

Scientific ReportsVol. 15(1)
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT), University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), University of Padua (IT), University of Sassari (IT), University of Milan (IT), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT), Policlinico Umberto I (IT), Ente Ospedaliero Ospedali Galliera (IT), Ospedale Antonio Cardarelli (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia (IT), Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani (IT), Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera G.Rummo (IT), Center for Prevention and Treatment of Infections (US), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari (IT), Ospedale Garibaldi (IT), Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia (IT), Ospedale San Paolo (IT), Agenzia Regionale Prevenzione e Ambiente della Regione Emilia-Romagna (IT), Santissima Trinità (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea (IT), Azienda Sanitaria Locale Alessandria (IT), Policlinico Tor Vergata (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "G. Martino" (IT), Ospedale Santa Maria Goretti (IT), Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ed Alta Specializzazione (IT), Azienda USL di Pescara (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone" di Palermo (IT), Ospedale D. Cotugno (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana (IT), Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona (IT), Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione (IT), University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT), Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Infection Control in Healthcare
1.40
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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