Point prevalence surveys of health care associated infections : a systematic review

Saleem, Zikria and Godman, Brian and Hassali, Mohamed Azmi and Hashmi, Furqan Khurshid and Azhar, Faiza and Ur Rehman, Inayat (2019) Point prevalence surveys of health care associated infections : a systematic review. Pathogens and Global Health, 113 (4). pp. 191-205. ISSN 2047-7732 (https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2019.1632070)

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Abstract

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are considered as a serious public health issues that contribute substantially to the global burden of mortality and morbidity with respect to infectious diseases. The aim is to assess the burden of healthcare associated infections by collation of available data from published point prevalence surveys (PPS) on HAIs to give future guidance. Study protocol and methodology was designed according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviewsand meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Published research papers that conducted point prevalence survey of HAIs in hospital settings by following the structured survey methodology employed by European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) were included. Of 1212 articles, 67 studies were included in the final analysis conducted across different countries. Overall, 35 studies were conducted in Europe, 21 in Asia, 9 in America, and 2 in Africa. The highest prevalence of HAIs was recorded in a study conducted in adult ICU settings of 75 regions of Europe (51.3%). The majority of the studies included HAI data on urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections and bloodstream infections. Klebseilla pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli were the most frequent pathogens responsible for HAIs. PPS is useful tool to quantify HAIs and provides a robust baseline data for policy makers. However, a standardize surveillance method is required. In order to minimize the burden of HAIs, infection prevention and control programs and antibiotic stewardship may be effective strategies to minimize risk of HAIs.