Prevalence and associated factors of healthcare associated infections in Habib Bourguiba university hospital, Sfax, Tunisia, 2024
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Abstract
Introduction-Aim: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major public health issue due to significant related morbidity, mortality and increased costs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCAI in a Tunisian university hospital in 2024 and to determine its associated factors.
Methods: A point-prevalence study was conducted from 10th to 22nd of June 2024 in Habib-Bourguiba hospital in Sfax-Tunisia. It included all patients hospitalised for a minimum of 48 hours.
Results: Of 227 patients, 40 patients had at least one HCAIs, giving a HCAIs prevalence of 17.6% (95%CI 12.8-22.5). The HCAIs prevalence was 46.7% (95%CI 29.2-65.4) in ICU (Intensive care units) versus 13.9% (95%CI 8.9-19.6) in non-ICU.
Urinary tract infections (40.6%) were the most common, followed by respiratory tract infections and surgical site infections (both 17.4%). The main identified microorganisms among HCAIs were Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (19.3%), Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Proteus Mirabilis (both 14.8%).
Factors independently associated with having at least one HCAI were admission in ICU (aOR=5.7, 95%CI: 2.4-13.3), obesity (aOR = 4.2, 95%CI: 1.5-12.1), age 60 years and older (aOR=2.7, 95%CI: 1.1-7.4), antibiotic use in the past six months (aOR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.1-5.7), and the number of days of peripheral venous catheter (aOR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1-2.5).
Conclusion: Our study fills a critical gap in the literature on the national and regional levels. It revealed a high prevalence of HCAI in Habib-Bourguiba Hospital compared to similar studies in other regions. We, therefore, recommend setting up operational hospital hygiene programmes for healthcare ..(abstract truncated at 250 words)
Keywords:
Healthcare associated infections, Surveillance, Infection Prevention##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

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