Incidence of HAIs in hospitalized patients with, without COVID-19

Editor's Note

This study from HCA Healthcare, Nashville, Tennessee, finds an increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients with COVID-19, but no increase in patients without COVID-19.

More than 5 million hospitalizations in 182 hospitals between 2020 and 2022 were included in the analysis.

The incidence of HAIs per 100, 000 patient days for COVID-19 vs non-COVID-19 patients include the following:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were 3.7-fold higher for COVID-19 patients (25.4 vs 6.9).
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) were 2.7 fold higher for COVID-19 patients (16.5 vs 6.1).
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia infections were 3-fold higher for COVID-19 patients (11.2 vs 3.7).
• No significant difference in Clostridioides difficile (CDIFF) infections was found between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
• Patients without COVID-19 had rates of HAIs that would be expected based on the incidence observed before the pandemic.

The findings suggest that, despite the stressors hospitals experienced during the pandemic, key safety processes were maintained, and that patients with COVID-19 may require additional protective care to prevent HAIs, the authors say.