Modelling how antimicrobial resistance spreads between wards

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat to patient safety.
• The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) complicates treatment and increases mortality.
• Patient movement and antibiotic stewardship are key factors in HAI transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between patient ward transfers and the incidence of hospital-acquired infections.
• To assess the impact of high-level antibiotic prescription on the prevalence of resistant bacterial strains.
• To identify modifiable factors influencing the spread of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient transfer logs and antibiotic prescription data.
• Microbiological surveillance to identify bacterial pathogens and their resistance profiles.
• Statistical modeling to quantify the association between patient mobility, antibiotic use, and infection rates.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between the frequency of inter-ward patient transfers and the incidence of bacterial infections.
• Hospitals with higher rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing showed a marked increase in multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
• Specific patient populations and ward types were identified as high-risk for transmission.

Conclusions:

• Inter-ward patient movement is a critical driver for the dissemination of resistant bacteria within hospitals.
• Judicious antibiotic prescribing and optimized patient flow are essential strategies to combat AMR.
• Implementing enhanced infection control protocols targeting patient transfers and antibiotic stewardship is recommended.