Healthcare Associated Infections—A New Pathology in Medical Practice?

Septimiu Voidazan, Sorin Albu, Réka Toth, Bianca Grigorescu, Anca Rachita and Iuliu Moldovan
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Septimiu Voidazan: Department of Epidemiology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology George Emil Palade of Tîrgu Mureș, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
Sorin Albu: Department of Physiology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology George Emil Palade of Tîrgu Mureș, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
Réka Toth: Department of Quality Management in Healthcare Services, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Tîrgu Mureș, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
Bianca Grigorescu: Department of Pathophysiology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology George Emil Palade of Targu-Mures, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
Anca Rachita: University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology George Emil Palade of Targu-Mures, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
Iuliu Moldovan: Discipline of public health and health management University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology George Emil Palade of Targu-Mures, 540141 Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) contribute to the emotional stress and functional disorders of the patient and in some cases, can lead to a state of disability that reduces quality of life. Often, HAI are one of the factors that lead to death. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cases of HAI identified in public hospitals at the county level, through case report sheets, as they are reported according to the Romanian legislation. Methods: We performed a cross sectional study design based on the case law of the data reported to the Mures Public Health Directorate, by all the public hospitals belonging to this county. We tracked hospital-acquired infections reported for 2017–2018, respectively, a number of 1024 cases, which implies a prevalence rate of 0.44%, 1024/228,782 cases discharged from these hospitals during the studied period. Results: The most frequent HAIs were reported by the intensive care units (48.4%), the most common infections being the following: bronchopneumonia (25.3%), enterocolitis with Clostridioides difficile (23.3%), sepsis, surgical wound infections and urinary tract infections. At the basis of HAI were 22 pathogens, but the five most common germs were Clostridioides difficile , Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus . Bronchopneumonia have been most frequently reported in intensive care units, the most common being identified the Acinetobacter baumannii agent. Sepsis and central catheter infections also appeared predominantly in intensive care units, more often with Klebsiella pneumoniae . The enterocolitis with Clostridioides difficile , were the apanage of the medical sections. Infections with Staphylococcus aureus have been identified predominantly in the surgical sections at the level of the surgical wounds. Urinary infections had a similar distribution in the intensive care units, the medical and surgical sections, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being the most commonly incriminated agent. Conclusions: We showed a clear correspondence between the medical units and the type of HAI: what recommends the rapid, vigilant and oriented application of the prevention and control strategies of the HAI.

Keywords: hospital acquired infections; prevention and control strategies; bacterial resistance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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