Influenza vaccination coverage and obstacles in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the follow up of side effects: a multicenter investigation in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Seasonal influenza is an annual common occurrence in cold seasons; but the COVID-19 pandemic is also currently ongoing. These two diseases can't be distinguished from their symptoms alone; therefore, the importance of preventing influenza by vaccination is more than ever. Due to the high exposure of hospital personnel, widespread influenza vaccination of these high-risk groups seems to be a necessity. This Study conducted to determine vaccination coverage in the personnel of four tertiary referral collegiate hospitals in 2019 and to further investigate individual obstacles for Influenza vaccination. METHODS: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 637 personnel were selected randomly from distinctive hospitals in a list-wised. Ones vaccinated filled the side effects questionnaire and who not vaccinated filled the vaccination obstacles questionnaire. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences with this reference number: IR.TUMS.IKHC.REC.1398.218. RESULTS: The mean vaccination coverage was 29.4% and the coverage difference among centers was not statistically significant (p = 0.192). The following items had the most impact on personnel decision: confidence about one's immune system (p < 0.05), the experience of side effects from previous vaccinations (p = 0.011), attitude about vaccination in colleagues (p = 0.021) and work experience (p < 0.05). About 23% of vaccinated individuals reported side effects following vaccination and the most common side effect was mild cold symptoms with 12.3% prevalence. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study revealed that influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs is not satisfactory in Iran. Hospital authorities and infection control units should plan to remove the obstacles of influenza vaccination.

Assessment of device-associated infection rates in teaching hospitals in Islamic Republic of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance of health care-associated infections (HCAIs) is an integral part of infection control programmes, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). Device-associated infections (DAIs) are a major threat to patient safety. AIM: To measure DAI rates in ICUs. METHODS: Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and catheter- associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) were assessed in the ICUs of 4 tertiary-care teaching hospitals in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. RESULTS: The incidence rate of CLABSI, VAP and CAUTI was 10.20, 21.08 and 7.42 per 1000 device-days, respectively. The utilization ratio for central lines, ventilators and urinary catheters was 0.62, 0.47, and 0.84, respectively. The most common organisms were Acinetobacter (33.5 %) and Klebsiella (19.0 %). Sixty to eighty percent of Enterobacteriaceae were extended- spectrum beta-lactamase producing. About half of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were resistant to piperacillin/ tazobactam and carbapenem. Acinetobacter resistance rate to ampicillin/sulbactam and carbapenem was 70-80 %. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus was 84.6 % and 83.3 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high incidence rates of DAIs and resistant organisms, and appropriate interventions are necessary to reduce these rates.