Hospital-acquired infection: a five year study at Taranaki Base Hospital

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings.
• Monitoring infection rates is crucial for patient safety and effective hospital management.
• Understanding common pathogens and resistance patterns aids in infection control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the incidence of hospital-acquired infections over a five-year period.
• To identify the primary bacterial pathogens responsible for HAIs.
• To assess the prevalence of multi-resistant and gentamicin-resistant bacteria within the hospital environment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of infection data collected over five years.
• Calculation of overall and periodic incidence rates of nosocomial infections.
• Identification and characterization of causative microorganisms, including antibiotic resistance patterns.

Main Results:

• The overall incidence of hospital-acquired infection was 4.1%.
• Infection rates showed variability, ranging from 2.1% to 6.0% over four-weekly periods.
• Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were identified as the predominant pathogens.
• Multi-resistant and gentamicin-resistant bacteria were found to be uncommon.
• Five small clusters of infection were identified during the study period.

Conclusions:

• The overall HAI rate in this general hospital was 4.1% over five years.
• Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the main causes of infection.
• The low prevalence of resistant bacteria suggests effective initial control measures.
• Further investigation into the identified infection clusters is warranted.