Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in Polish adult intensive care units: summary data from the ECDC European Point Prevalence Survey of Hospital-associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Poland 2012-2014

J Hosp Infect. 2017 Jun;96(2):145-150. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.12.020. Epub 2017 Jan 4.

Abstract

Background: Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Local epidemiological studies need to be conducted to set the priorities for surveillance and prevention programmes.

Aim: To investigate the epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among patients admitted to Polish adult ICUs over a three-year period.

Methods: Data were collected according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European Union Point Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in European Acute Care Hospitals (EU-PPS HAI & AU) protocol for 39,318 patients within 160 acute care hospitals. From this initial database, data for adult ICU patients (N=945) were filtered for further analyses.

Findings: HAIs were present in 370 patients (39%) and 430 HAI episodes were recorded. The most common HAIs were respiratory tract infections (45%), usually caused by Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-negative non-fermenters. The majority (87%) of these infections were likely to be device associated. Out of 61 cases of bloodstream infection, 51% were catheter associated. These bloodstream infections were mainly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci. Among 57 cases of surgical site infection, 42% were classified as organ/space, 33% were classified as deep incisional, and 25% were classified as superficial. The predominant micro-organisms were Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus. Out of 50 cases of urinary tract infection, 96% were device associated.

Conclusions: The prevalence of HAI among Polish adult ICU patients is higher than described in similar studies, but may be partially affected by methodological differences. The proportion of device-associated infections was very high, so there is an urgent need to introduce countrywide, targeted surveillance and prevention programmes.

Keywords: ECDC point prevalence survey; Epidemiology; Healthcare-associated infections; ICU.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Candida / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis / epidemiology*
  • Candidiasis / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires