TY - JOUR
T1 - A multicenter point prevalence survey of healthcare–associated infections in Pakistan
T2 - Findings and implications
AU - Saleem, Zikria
AU - Hassali, Mohamed Azmi
AU - Godman, Brian
AU - Hashmi, Furqan Khurshid
AU - Saleem, Fahad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - Background: Healthcare–associated infections (HAIs) are seen as a global public health threat, leading to increased mortality and morbidity as well as costs. However, little is currently known about the prevalence of HAIs in Pakistan. Consequently, this multicenter prevalence survey of HAIs was conducted to assess the prevalence of HAIs in Pakistan. Methods: We used the methodology employed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to assess the prevalence of HAIs in Punjab Province, Pakistan. Data were collected from 13 hospitals using a structured data collection tool. Results: Out of 1,553 hospitalized patients, 130 (8.4%) had symptoms of HAIs. The most common HAI was surgical site infection (40.0%), followed by bloodstream infection (21.5%), and lower respiratory tract infection (14.6%). The prevalence of HAI was higher in private sector hospitals (25.0%) and among neonates (23.8%) and patients admitted to intensive care units (33.3%). Patients without HAIs were admitted mainly to public sector hospitals and adult medical and surgical wards. Conclusions: The study found a high rate of HAIs among hospitals in Pakistan, especially surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, and lower respiratory tract infections. This needs to be addressed to reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs in the future, and further research is planned.
AB - Background: Healthcare–associated infections (HAIs) are seen as a global public health threat, leading to increased mortality and morbidity as well as costs. However, little is currently known about the prevalence of HAIs in Pakistan. Consequently, this multicenter prevalence survey of HAIs was conducted to assess the prevalence of HAIs in Pakistan. Methods: We used the methodology employed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to assess the prevalence of HAIs in Punjab Province, Pakistan. Data were collected from 13 hospitals using a structured data collection tool. Results: Out of 1,553 hospitalized patients, 130 (8.4%) had symptoms of HAIs. The most common HAI was surgical site infection (40.0%), followed by bloodstream infection (21.5%), and lower respiratory tract infection (14.6%). The prevalence of HAI was higher in private sector hospitals (25.0%) and among neonates (23.8%) and patients admitted to intensive care units (33.3%). Patients without HAIs were admitted mainly to public sector hospitals and adult medical and surgical wards. Conclusions: The study found a high rate of HAIs among hospitals in Pakistan, especially surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, and lower respiratory tract infections. This needs to be addressed to reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs in the future, and further research is planned.
KW - Health policy
KW - Healthcare associated infection
KW - Hospitals
KW - Infection control
KW - Point prevalence survey
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056872451&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.09.025
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.09.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 30471976
AN - SCOPUS:85056872451
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 47
SP - 421
EP - 424
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 4
ER -
