Point-prevalence surveys of hospital-acquired infections in a Chinese cancer hospital: From 2014 to 2018

• Main Authors: Guyu Huang, Qianqian Huang, Guoqiang Zhang, Hu Jiang, Zhen Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-12-01
• Series: Journal of Infection and Public Health
• Subjects: Hospital-acquired infection; Point-prevalence survey; Cancer; China
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120304032

Background: Both hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and cancer represents major health concerns worldwide, but there is a paucity of data describing HAI in Chinese cancer patients. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence, causative agents, antimicrobial use and risk factors for HAI in a cancer hospital in Southwestern China. Methods: We use the criteria of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China to define hospital-acquired infections. One-day cross-sectional surveys were annually conducted from 2014 to 2018. Trained staff collected hospital-acquired infections, antimicrobial use and clinical characteristics data of inpatients. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the potential risk factors associated with HAIs. Results: Of the 6717 patients surveyed, there were 140 patients (2.1%, 95% confidence interval, 1.7–2.4%) with 144 distinct HAIs. Lower respiratory tract infections (47, 32.6%) and surgical-site infections (29, 20.1%) were the most common HAIs. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (29.6%). Risk factors for HAI included younger age (<18 years) or older age (>65 years), hospitalization in the intensive care unit, presence of central catheter and undergoing surgery in the previous 30 days. The overall prevalence of patients receiving antimicrobial agents was 15.2%. Conclusion: To control hospital-acquired infections in cancer patients, surveillance and prevention strategies to infections associated with central catheters or related to surgery should be augmented.