Impact of COVID-19 on hospital acquired infections

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Established guidelines exist for preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• The specific impact of the pandemic on HAI prevention practices requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on HAI rates.
• To investigate the relationship between pandemic-related staffing changes and HAI incidence.
• To analyze HAI trends within a single healthcare system during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of HAI rates at two hospitals within the same healthcare system.
• Correlation analysis between HAI incidence and the utilization of overtime and agency nursing hours.
• Review of infection prevention policies and practices during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in hospital-acquired infection rates was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The rise in HAIs correlated positively with increased reliance on overtime and agency nursing staff.
• No significant changes in established HAI prevention guidelines were noted, but implementation challenges likely occurred.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in hospital-acquired infections.
• Increased use of temporary nursing staff (overtime and agency) is associated with higher HAI rates.
• Healthcare systems must address staffing challenges to maintain effective HAI prevention during public health crises.