The Impact of COVID-19 on Central Line Bloodstream Infections Standardized Infection Ratio in Intensive Care Units: A 3-year Surveillance Data Yoğun Bakım Ünitelerinde COVID-19’un Santral Kateter İlişkili Kan Dolaşımı Enfeksiyonları Standardize Enfeksiyon Oranları Üzerine Etkisi: 3 Yıllık Sürveyans Verisi

ARSLAN GÜLEN T., TURUNÇ T., ORUÇ E., Şahi̇N Eker H. B.

Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials, cilt.11, sa.46, 2022 (Scopus)

Özet

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections have increased during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic because of inadequate adherence to infection control measures. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLBSI) are one of the infections with an increased incidence. In this study, CLBSI standardized infection ratio (SIRs) in three periods were compared, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on CLBSI observed in intensive care units (ICUs) was evaluated. The hand hygiene compliance rates were also examined for the same period. Materials and Methods: The 3-year (2019, 2020, and 2021) SIR, standardized utilization ratio (SUR), and SIR change rates between years in 12 adult ICUs were compared. Calculations were made using the SIR and SUR calculation tool prepared by the General Directorate of Public Health of Turkey. The formula [(SIR/SUR of year Y-SIR/SUR of year X) / SIR/SUR x 100 of year X] was used when calculating the SIR/SUR change rates between periods. Results: In 2019 and 2020, SIR was detected as >1 only in the Burn ICU. Anesthesiology and Reanimation 1 and 2 and Internal Medicine 3 were the ICUs with the highest SIR increase rate in 2020. In 2021, the SIR was <1 in all units. In Anesthesiology and Reanimation 2, Internal Medicine 1 and 3, and Cardiovascular Surgery ICUs, the SUR was >1 in all periods. When the mean SIR values of ICUs between 2019, 2020, and 2021 were compared, the rate was significantly higher in 2020 (p<0.05). A significant increase was found in hand hygiene compliance in 2021 compared with previous years (p<0.05). Conclusion: With the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in CLBSI-SIR was observed in 2020. In 2021, a decrease in CLBSI-SIR and an increase in hand hygiene compliance were achieved by gaining experience in the follow-up and treatment of patients with COVID-19, implementing infection control programs, and conducting on-site training and inspections.