Compromised Nutritional Status as a Risk Factor for the Incidence of Nosocomial Infections

Background Poor nutritional status may lead to longer hospital stays, increased mortality and morbidity, increased cost, and higher suffering. Nosocomial infections (NI) are a global health concern, and several risk factors are associated with their higher incidence. This study aimed to reveal that compromised nutritional status is one of the risk factors for developing NIs. Methodology The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Pune, India. This was a prospective cohort study with a sample size of 200 hospitalized participants. Data collection was based on standard tools and structured forms which had two parts. In the first part, the assessment of nutritional status was done for which patients were categorized into two groups, namely, well-nourished and undernourished. Additionally, biochemical parameters (serum albumin) were also assessed. The second part included a follow-up of participants to evaluate the development of NIs including their laboratory investigation. Results were analyzed statistically using R software. Results Among 200 participants, 60 were female, of whom 15% developed NIs. Of the 140 males, 8% had NIs. Among 200 participants, 101 (51%) were well-nourished, of whom two (2%) developed NIs. Of the 99 (49%) undernourished participants, 18 (18%) had NIs. Those who were undernourished (univariate relative risk = 6.10, 95% confidence interval) were more prone to developing NIs compared to the well-nourished group. Conclusions NIs are widespread globally but are less studied and given less emphasis in developing countries. This study reports various types of NIs along with their incidence in well-nourished and undernourished groups. The incidence of NI observed in this study may reflect the higher severity of illness, age, poor nutritional status, and longer hospital stays. Identifying risk factors that can contribute to developing NI may help in their prevention by maximizing patient safety.