Pneumonia Characteristics in an Intensive Care Unit Setting during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Single-Center Prospective Study.

Background: During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a suspicion of varying rates of respiratory tract infections (RTIs), particularly pneumonia (PN). Methods: This research evaluated epidemiological indicators of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period, including pathogens, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), selected risk factors, and PN mortality. Results: At 1740 patients, throughout the 22,774 patient-days (Pt-D) and 18,039 ventilation days (Vt-D), there were 681 PN cases (39.14%): CAP 336 (19.31%) and HAP 345 (19.83%). CAP caused by SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed in 257/336 (76.49%) patients. The clinical manifestations of PNs were CAP with 336/681 (49.34%), VAP with 232/681 (34.07%), and non-ventilator HAP (NV-HAP) with 113/681 cases (16.59%). The incidence rate of CAP/1000 Pt-D has been over 3 times higher in the pandemic period of 2020-2021 (20.25) than in the post-pandemic period of 2022 (5.86), p = 0.000. Similarly, higher incidence rates of VAP/1000 Pt-D were found in the pandemic period (p = 0.050). For NV-HAP, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.585). VAP occurred more frequently in the group of patients with PN in the course of COVID-19 compared to patients without COVID-19 (52/234 [22.2%] vs. 180/1506 [11.95%]); (p = 0.000). The most common CAP pathogen (during the pandemic) was SARS CoV-2 234/291 (80.4%), followed by MSSA/MRSA 8/291 (2.75%), whereas the most common VAP/NV-HAP pathogen was Acinetobacter baumannii XDR/MDR. The highest PN mortality was found in the patients with CAP caused by SARS-CoV-2 159/257 (61.87%). Conclusions: Pneumonias were diagnosed in nearly 40% of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Surveillance of pneumonias during the specific observation period was beneficial in the epidemiological and microbiological analysis of the ICU patients.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report of health care-associated infections, data summary of 25 countries for 2014 to 2023, Surgical Site Infections Module.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) rates are higher in low-resource countries (LRC) than in high-income counterparts. METHODS: Prospective cohort study using the INICC Surveillance Online System, from 116 hospitals in 75 cities across 25 Latin-American, Asian, Eastern-European, and Middle-Eastern countries: Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, India, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam. CDC/NHSN definitions were applied. Surgical procedures (SPs) were categorized according to the International Classification of Diseases criteria. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2023, we collected data on 1,251 SSIs associated with 56,617 SPs. SSI rates were significantly higher in SPs of INICC compared to CDC/NHSN data: hip prosthesis (3.68% vs 0.67%, relative risk [RR]=5.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.71-8.03, P<.001), knee prosthesis (2.02% vs 0.58%, RR=3.49, 95% CI=1.87-6.49, P<.001), coronary artery bypass (4.16% vs 1.37%, RR=3.03, 95% CI=2.35-3.91, P<.001), peripheral vascular bypass (15.69% vs 2.93%, RR=5.35, 95% CI=2.30-12.48, P<.001), abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (8.51% vs 2.12%, RR=4.02, 95% CI=2.11-7.65, P<.001), spinal fusion (6.47% vs 0.70%, RR=9.27, 95% CI=6.21-13.84, P<.001), laminectomy (2.68% vs 0.72%, RR=3.75, 95% CI=2.36-5.95, P<.001), among others. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated SSI rates in LRCs emphasize the need for effective interventions.

Examining the impact of a 9-component bundle and the INICC multidimensional approach on catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in 32 countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) frequently occur in the intensive care unit (ICU) and are correlated with a significant burden. METHODS: We implemented a strategy involving a 9-element bundle, education, surveillance of CAUTI rates and clinical outcomes, monitoring compliance with bundle components, feedback of CAUTI rates and performance feedback. This was executed in 299 ICUs across 32 low- and middle-income countries. The dependent variable was CAUTI per 1,000 UC days, assessed at baseline and throughout the intervention, in the second month, third month, 4 to 15 months, 16 to 27 months, and 28 to 39 months. Comparisons were made using a 2-sample t test, and the exposure-outcome relationship was explored using a generalized linear mixed model with a Poisson distribution. RESULTS: Over the course of 978,364 patient days, 150,258 patients utilized 652,053 UC-days. The rates of CAUTI per 1,000 UC days were measured. The rates decreased from 14.89 during the baseline period to 5.51 in the second month (risk ratio [RR] = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.39; P < .001), 3.79 in the third month (RR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.23-0.28; P < .001), 2.98 in the 4 to 15 months (RR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.18-0.22; P < .001), 1.86 in the 16 to 27 months (RR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.11-0.14; P < .001), and 1.71 in the 28 to 39 months (RR = 0.11; 95% CI = 0.09-0.13; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention, without substantial costs or additional staffing, achieved an 89% reduction in CAUTI incidence in ICUs across 32 countries, demonstrating feasibility in ICUs of low- and middle-income countries.

Multinational prospective study of incidence and risk factors for central-line-associated bloodstream infections in 728 intensive care units of 41 Asian, African, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries over 24 years.

OBJECTIVE: To identify central-line (CL)-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) incidence and risk factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN: From July 1, 1998, to February 12, 2022, we conducted a multinational multicenter prospective cohort study using online standardized surveillance system and unified forms. SETTING: The study included 728 ICUs of 286 hospitals in 147 cities in 41 African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries. PATIENTS: In total, 278,241 patients followed during 1,815,043 patient days acquired 3,537 CLABSIs. METHODS: For the CLABSI rate, we used CL days as the denominator and the number of CLABSIs as the numerator. Using multiple logistic regression, outcomes are shown as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS: The pooled CLABSI rate was 4.82 CLABSIs per 1,000 CL days, which is significantly higher than that reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC NHSN). We analyzed 11 variables, and the following variables were independently and significantly associated with CLABSI: length of stay (LOS), risk increasing 3% daily (aOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03-1.04; P < .0001), number of CL days, risk increasing 4% per CL day (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.04; P < .0001), surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.21; P < .0001), tracheostomy use (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.23-1.88; P < .0001), hospitalization at a publicly owned facility (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.31-4.01; P <.0001) or at a teaching hospital (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.22-3.83; P < .0001), hospitalization in a middle-income country (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.09-2.77; P < .0001). The ICU type with highest risk was adult oncology (aOR, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.11-6.09; P < .0001), followed by pediatric oncology (aOR, 2.51;95% CI, 1.57-3.99; P < .0001), and pediatric (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.81-3.01; P < .0001). The CL type with the highest risk was internal-jugular (aOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.71-3.33; P < .0001), followed by femoral (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.96-2.68; P < .0001). Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was the CL with the lowest CLABSI risk (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02-2.18; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The following CLABSI risk factors are unlikely to change: country income level, facility ownership, hospitalization type, and ICU type. These findings suggest a focus on reducing LOS, CL days, and tracheostomy; using PICC instead of internal-jugular or femoral CL; and implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention recommendations.

Multinational prospective cohort study of rates and risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia over 24 years in 42 countries of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

Objective: Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are several times above those of high-income countries. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors (RFs) for VAP cases in ICUs of LMICs. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: This study was conducted across 743 ICUs of 282 hospitals in 144 cities in 42 Asian, African, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries. Participants: The study included patients admitted to ICUs across 24 years. Results: In total, 289,643 patients were followed during 1,951,405 patient days and acquired 8,236 VAPs. We analyzed 10 independent variables. Multiple logistic regression identified the following independent VAP RFs: male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.28; P < .0001); longer length of stay (LOS), which increased the risk 7% per day (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07-1.08; P < .0001); mechanical ventilation (MV) utilization ratio (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23-1.31; P < .0001); continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 13.38; 95% CI, 11.57-15.48; P < .0001); tracheostomy connected to a MV, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 8.31; 95% CI, 7.21-9.58; P < .0001); endotracheal tube connected to a MV (aOR, 6.76; 95% CI, 6.34-7.21; P < .0001); surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29; P < .0001); admission to a public hospital (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.35-1.86; P < .0001); middle-income country (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 15-1.29; P < .0001); admission to an adult-oncology ICU, which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 4.05; 95% CI, 3.22-5.09; P < .0001), admission to a neurologic ICU, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.78-3.45; P < .0001); and admission to a respiratory ICU (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.79-3.07; P < .0001). Admission to a coronary ICU showed the lowest risk (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.77; P < .0001). Conclusions: Some identified VAP RFs are unlikely to change: sex, hospitalization type, ICU type, facility ownership, and country income level. Based on our results, we recommend focusing on strategies to reduce LOS, to reduce the MV utilization ratio, to limit CPAP use and implementing a set of evidence-based VAP prevention recommendations.

The impact of healthcare-associated infections on mortality in ICU: A prospective study in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium has found a high ICU mortality rate. Our aim was to identify all-cause mortality risk factors in ICU-patients. METHODS: Multinational, multicenter, prospective cohort study at 786 ICUs of 312 hospitals in 147 cities in 37 Latin American, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and European countries. RESULTS: Between 07/01/1998 and 02/12/2022, 300,827 patients, followed during 2,167,397 patient-days, acquired 21,371 HAIs. Following mortality risk factors were identified in multiple logistic regression: Central line-associated bloodstream infection (aOR:1.84; P<.0001); ventilator-associated pneumonia (aOR:1.48; P<.0001); catheter-associated urinary tract infection (aOR:1.18;P<.0001); medical hospitalization (aOR:1.81; P<.0001); length of stay (LOS), risk rises 1% per day (aOR:1.01; P<.0001); female gender (aOR:1.09; P<.0001); age (aOR:1.012; P<.0001); central line-days, risk rises 2% per day (aOR:1.02; P<.0001); and mechanical ventilator (MV)-utilization ratio (aOR:10.46; P<.0001). Coronary ICU showed the lowest risk for mortality (aOR: 0.34;P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Some identified risk factors are unlikely to change, such as country income-level, facility ownership, hospitalization type, gender, and age. Some can be modified; Central line-associated bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infection, LOS, and MV-utilization. So, to lower the risk of death in ICUs, we recommend focusing on strategies to shorten the LOS, reduce MV-utilization, and use evidence-based recommendations to prevent HAIs.

Frequency, Etiology, Mortality, Cost, and Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections-Prospective, One Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most monitored form of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). A small number of epidemiological studies have monitored community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) in intensive care units (ICUs). The objective of this study was to assess the frequency, etiology, mortality, and additional costs of RTIs. METHODS: One-year prospective RTI surveillance at a 30-bed ICU. The study assessed the rates and microbiological profiles of CAP, VAP, NV-HAP, VAT, and VAP prevention factors, the impact of VAP and NV-HAP on the length of ICU stays, and the additional costs of RTI treatment and mortality. RESULTS: Among 578 patients, RTIs were found in 30%. The CAP, NV-HAP, VAP, and VAT rates/100 admissions were 5.9, 9.0, 8.65, and 6.05, respectively. The VAP incidence density/1000 MV-days was 10.8. The most common pathogen of RTI was Acinetobacter baumannii MDR. ICU stays were extended by VAP and NV-HAP for 17.8 and 3.7 days, respectively, and these RTIs increased the cost of therapy by 13,029 and 2708 EUR per patient, respectively. The mortality rate was higher by 11.55% in patients with VAP than those without device-associated and healthcare-associated infections (p = 0.0861). CONCLUSIONS: RTIs are a serious epidemiological problem in patients who are admitted and treated in ICU, as they may affect one-third of patients. Hospital-acquired RTIs extend hospitalization time, increase the cost of treatment, and worsen outcomes.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 45 countries for 2013-2018, Adult and Pediatric Units, Device-associated Module.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of INICC surveillance study from 2013 to 2018, in 664 intensive care units (ICUs) in 133 cities, of 45 countries, from Latin-America, Europe, Africa, Eastern-Mediterranean, Southeast-Asia, and Western-Pacific. METHODS: Prospective data from patients hospitalized in ICUs were collected through INICC Surveillance Online System. CDC-NHSN definitions for device-associated healthcare-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied. RESULTS: We collected data from 428,847 patients, for an aggregate of 2,815,402 bed-days, 1,468,216 central line (CL)-days, 1,053,330 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days, 1,740,776 urinary catheter (UC)-days. We found 7,785 CL-associated bloodstream infections (CLAB), 12,085 ventilator-associated events (VAE), and 5,509 UC-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Pooled DA-HAI rates were 5.91% and 9.01 DA-HAIs/1,000 bed-days. Pooled CLAB rate was 5.30/1,000 CL-days; VAE rate was 11.47/1,000 MV-days, and CAUTI rate was 3.16/1,000 UC-days. P aeruginosa was non-susceptible (NS) to imipenem in 52.72% of cases; to colistin in 10.38%; to ceftazidime in 50%; to ciprofloxacin in 40.28%; and to amikacin in 34.05%. Klebsiella spp was NS to imipenem in 49.16%; to ceftazidime in 78.01%; to ciprofloxacin in 66.26%; and to amikacin in 42.45%. coagulase-negative Staphylococci and S aureus were NS to oxacillin in 91.44% and 56.03%, respectively. Enterococcus spp was NS to vancomycin in 42.31% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance are high and continuous efforts are needed to reduce them.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa device associated - healthcare associated infections and its multidrug resistance at intensive care unit of University Hospital: polish, 8.5-year, prospective, single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has recently shown to be one of the most important strains of bacteria and alert pathogens in Europe among Intensive Care Unit patients that provide serious therapeutic problems because of its multidrug resistance. METHODS: The purpose of this microbiological study was data analysis of device associated- healthcare associated infections (DA-HAIs) in an ICU in terms of the incidents of P.aeruginosa strain infections and its susceptibility within an 8.5-year observation. RESULTS: Among 919 isolated strains responsible for 799 DA-HAIs (17,62 ± 1,98/1000 patient-days) in 4010 ICU patients P.aeruginosa was the pathogen in 108/799 (13.52%) cases. Incidence rate (density) of: VAP/1000 MV- days, UTI /1000 UC- days and CLA-BSI/1000 CL- days were 11,15 ± 2.5, 6.82 ± 0.81, 2.35 ± 1.54.respectivelly. P.aeruginosa was the pathogen most frequently responsible for VAP 69/108 (63.88%). Mean frequency of VAP, UTI and CLA-BSI with P.aeruginosa etiology was 69/493 (14.28%), 32/299 (11.1%) and 7/127 (5.77%) respectively. The mean density of P.aeruginosa infection amounted to 2.43/1000 patient-days. The decrease was observed in the total number of DA-HAIs caused by the P.aeruginosa from 15.75% and 3.23/1000 patient-days in 2011 to 5.0% and 1.17/1000 in 2016 (p = 0.0104, p = 0.0348). Starting from 2016 to 2019 incidence and density of P.aeruginosa DA-HAIs increased to 12.33% and 2.63/1000 (p = 0.1388, p = 0.0818). P.aeruginosa was susceptible to ceftazidime, cefepime, amikacin, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, colistin, in 55.55, 58.33, 70.37, 53.73, 50, and 100% respectively. MDR characterised it in 40% in 2011 and 66.7% in 2019, (p = 0.177). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a changeable prevalence of P. aeruginosa strain infections; however their frequency was never highest in our ICU patients as it presented in the last years in Europe. The study showed a significant decrease in 2016 and increase in 2019, a nearly 3-fold increase of P.aeruginosa infections among Gram-negative strain infections, and a 2-fold increase of the P.aeruginosa DA-HAIs frequency between 2016 and 2019 as well as an increased resistance. Microbiological analysis of DA-HAIs in each hospital should be a standard method used in hospital infection control and antibiotic policy. In the case of P.aeruginosa, in order to minimize transmission, preventive infection methods should be assessed mainly in case of VAP.

Device associated -health care associated infections monitoring, prevention and cost assessment at intensive care unit of University Hospital in Poland (2015-2017).

BACKGROUND: Device-associated health care-associated infections (DA-HAIs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients constitute a major therapeutic issue complicating the regular hospitalisation process and having influence on patients' condition, length of hospitalisation, mortality and therapy cost. METHODS: The study involved all patients treated > 48 h at ICU of the Medical University Teaching Hospital (Poland) from 1.01.2015 to 31.12.2017. The study showed the surveillance and prevention of DA-HAIs on International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Surveillance Online System (ISOS) 3 online platform according to methodology of the INICC multidimensional approach (IMA). RESULTS: During study period 252 HAIs were found in 1353 (549F/804M) patients and 14,700 patient-days of hospitalisation. The crude infections rate and incidence density of DA-HAIs was 18.69% and 17.49 ± 2.56 /1000 patient-days. Incidence density of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLA-BSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI) per 1000 device-days were 12.63 ± 1.49, 1.83 ± 0.65 and 6.5 ± 1.2, respectively. VAP(137) constituted 54.4% of HAIs, whereas CA-UTI(91) 36%, CLA-BSI(24) 9.6%.The most common pathogens in VAP and CA-UTI was multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (57 and 31%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) in CLA-BSI (45%). MDR Gram negative bacteria (GNB) 159 were responsible for 63.09% of HAIs. The length of hospitalisation of patients with a single DA-HAI at ICU was 21(14-33) days, while without infections it was 6.0 (3-11) days; p = 0.0001. The mortality rates in the hospital-acquired infection group and no infection group were 26.1% vs 26.9%; p = 0.838; OR 0.9633;95% CI (0.6733-1.3782). Extra cost of therapy caused by one ICU acquired HAI was US$ 11,475/Euro 10,035. Hand hygiene standards compliance rate was 64.7%, while VAP, CLA-BSI bundles compliance ranges were 96.2-76.8 and 29-100, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DA-HAIs was diagnosed at nearly 1/5 of patients. They were more frequent than in European Centre Disease Control report (except for CLA-BSI), more frequent than the USA CDC report, yet less frequent than in limited-resource countries (except for CA-UTI). They prolonged the hospitalisation period at ICU and generated substantial additional costs of treatment with no influence on mortality. The Acinetobacter baumannii MDR infections were the most problematic therapeutic issue. DA-HAIs preventive methods compliance rate needs improvement.

Characteristics of Microbial Factors of Healthcare-Associated Infections Including Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens and Antibiotic Consumption at the University Intensive Care Unit in Poland in the Years 2011-2018.

Introduction: In recent years, an increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by resistant pathogens, which is a clinically troublesome trend, has been observed. The aim of the study was to analyze the microbial factors of HAIs and the drug resistance of microorganisms to selected antibiotics and their consumption. Material and Methods: The retrospective study included 3708 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Teaching Hospital in Wroclaw, who were diagnosed with 742 HAIs in the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018. The aim of the study was the analysis of microorganisms isolated in the respective clinical forms of HAIs, including the occurrence of "alert pathogens", presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, and consumption of selected antibiotics. Findings: During the study period, 846 microorganisms were cultured in patients with HAIs, and among them, Acinetobacter baumannii MDR represented 31.8%; Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBLs, 11.3%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa MDR, 4.1% and MRSA, 2.2%; and Enterococcus spp. vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), 1.3%. Among all the pathogens, Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) were dominant (71.6%). Gram-positive bacteria and fungi accounted for 21.6% and 7%, respectively. The total number of strains responsible for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), urinary tract infection (UTI), and central line-associated blood stream infection (CLA-BSI) was as follows: 458 (54.1%), 274 (32.4%), and 114 (13.5%), respectively. Among the etiological factors of VAP, there was a prevalence of A. baumannii MDR (41.9%), as well as in the case of UTI (21.9%). With regards to CLA-BSI, MRCNS (29.8%) was the dominant pathogen. The "alert pathogens" accounted for 54.7% of all the analyzed strains. The MDR strains represented 72.6% and 9.7% among A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa, respectively. In the years 2011 vs. 2018, an increase in infections with MDR bacilli was observed, 34.6% vs. 61.0% (p = 0.0008), respectively, including A. baumannii MDR 16.54% vs. 34.56 % (p = 0.0009) and Enterobacterales ESBL+/AMPC 11.8% vs. 15.44 % (p = 0.3921). Resistance to methicillin was confirmed in 35.2% of S. aureus strains. Resistance to vancomycin was found among 30.9% of Enterococcus spp. The observed period was marked by an increase in the consumption of carbapenems: 197.7 vs. 235.9 defined daily dose (DDD)/1000 patients-days. Conclusions: Gram-negative bacteria were found to be dominant pathogens in healthcare-associated infections. The most frequently cultured pathogens were multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae ESBL(+), and P. aeruginosa. The study showed an increase in the incidence of "alert pathogens" and MDR bacilli, as well as the tendency of a growing resistance to antibiotics during the observed period. Microbiological analysis of HAIs and the consumption of antibiotics is the necessary element of the proper antibiotic policy in hospitals.

Six-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infection rates in 727 intensive care units of 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific Regions: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings.

BACKGROUND: Short-term peripheral venous catheter-related bloodstream infection (PVCR-BSI) rates have not been systematically studied in resource-limited countries, and data on their incidence by number of device days are not available. METHODS: Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013, to May 31, 2019, in 727 intensive care units (ICUs), by members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. For this research, we applied definition and criteria of the CDC NHSN, methodology of the INICC, and software named INICC Surveillance Online System. RESULTS: We followed 149,609 ICU patients for 731,135 bed days and 743,508 short-term peripheral venous catheter (PVC) days. We identified 1,789 PVCR-BSIs for an overall rate of 2.41 per 1,000 PVC days. Mortality in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 6.67%, and mortality was 18% in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. The length of stay of patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.83 days, and the length of stay was 9.85 days in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. Among these infections, the microorganism profile showed 58% gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (16%), Klebsiella spp (11%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6%), Enterobacter spp (4%), and others (20%) including Serratia marcescens. Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant gram-positive bacteria (12%). CONCLUSIONS: PVCR-BSI rates in INICC ICUs were much higher than rates published from industrialized countries. Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of PVCR-BSIs in resource-limited countries.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 45 countries for 2012-2017: Device-associated module.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2012 to December 2017 in 523 intensive care units (ICUs) in 45 countries from Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. METHODS: During the 6-year study period, prospective data from 532,483 ICU patients hospitalized in 242 hospitals, for an aggregate of 2,197,304 patient days, were collected through the INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied. RESULTS: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was higher (5.05 vs 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days); the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate was also higher (14.1 vs 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days,), as well as the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.1 vs 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days). From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance, such as of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to piperacillin-tazobactam (33.0% vs 18.3%), were also higher. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a significant trend toward the reduction in INICC ICUs, DA-HAI rates are still much higher compared with CDC-NHSN's ICUs representing the developed world. It is INICC's main goal to provide basic and cost-effective resources, through the INICC Surveillance Online System to tackle the burden of DA-HAIs effectively.

The Polish Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care (PPIC): A one-day point prevalence multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Infections in critically ill patients are the main reasons for a lack of therapeutic success and increased mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). There have been many analyses of the incidence of infections in ICUs; however, no large studies of this kind have been conducted either in Poland or in Eastern and Central Europe. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the research was to undertake a one-day study of the prevalence of infections in ICUs in Warszawa and the Mazovian region of Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective questionnaire survey analysis - a one-day prevalence study of infections - was carried out on June 25, 2014, in 28 ICUs in Poland. RESULTS: Among 205 ICU patients (193 adults and 12 children), 134 infections were found in 101 patients (99/193 adults (51.30%) and 2/12 children (16.70%)), and bacterial colonization in 19/205 (9.3%) patients. In 66.42% of the cases, more than 1 site of infection was diagnosed. On the day of the study, 75.40% of the diagnosed infections had positive microbiological results. The most frequent were respiratory tract infections (53.73%), wound infections (18.65%) and bloodstream infections (14.92%). Most of the infections (64.10%) were caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GN), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (GP; 31.80%) and fungi (4.10%). The most frequently reported GN microorganisms were Enterobacteriaceae (44.7%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections were found in 8.80% of the patients. Antibiotics were administered to 75.60% of the adult patients, in 69.20% as targeted treatment. Mechanical ventilation, central vein catheterization and urinary bladder catheterization were used in 67.80%, 85.85% and 94.63% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: On the day of the study, more than half of the patients had infections, mostly from GN bacteria. Respiratory tract infections were the main type found. In about 2/3 of the patients, antibiotics were administered, mainly as targeted therapy.

Analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii hospital infections in patients treated at the intensive care unit of the University Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland: a 6-year, single-center, retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is one of the most frequently isolated strains of bacteria in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, which provides huge therapeutic problems due to its multidrug resistance (MDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The overall purpose of the study was analysis of health care- associated infections in terms of the incidence of AB strain infections and the changing susceptibility of this strain within a 6-year observation (2011-2016). The study was carried out in an ICU of the University Hospital in Wroclaw (Poland). RESULTS: Among 589 isolated strains responsible for 540 health care-associated infections (21.2%) in 2549 ICU patients, AB was the pathogen in 183 (31%) cases. The incidence of AB infection amounted to 6.4/1000 patient-days. An increase was noted in the total number of hospital infections caused by AB strain from 16.5% and 3.39/1000 patient-days in 2011 to 41% and 9.64/1000 in 2016 (p=0.0003 and p=0.000, respectively). AB infections most frequently concerned ventilator-associated pneumonia (73.8%). AB was susceptible to colistin, amikacin, imipenem, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin in 100%, 10.7%, 12.3%, 11.5%, and 2.4% respectively, and it was characterized by MDR in 98.36% of the strains. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a 3-fold increase in the incidence of AB strain infections, significant increase in the resistance to carbapenems in the observed period, and a very high MDR. The solution to this problem would be the implementation of a repair program aiming at inhibition of AB strain transmission, measures to prevent infections, and restricted use of antibiotics.

Effect of universal chlorhexidine decolonisation on the infection rate in intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly intensive care unit-acquired infections (HAI-ICU), are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitals. Most of these infections are caused by multidrugresistant organisms. The results of recent studies have suggested that daily bathing with chlorhexidine (CHX)-universal decolonisation can prevent ICU infections. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of CHX bathing on the rate and type of HAI-ICU in critically ill patients. METHODS: This observational study, conducted in a mixed, 16-bed tertiary ICU, compared the following three 3-month periods: I) pre-intervention (traditional soap-water bathing), II) intervention (bathing with 2% CHX clothes), and III) post-intervention (soap-water bathing). The type and rate of HAI-ICU were registered according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 272 patients were included in the study. During the intervention period, the total infection rate was significantly lower than in the pre-intervention period (12.7% vs 22.2%, respectively). Significant decreases in the rate and density of catheter-related infections (CRI) were observed during the intervention period. A decrease in the isolation rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria was also observed during the intervention and post-intervention periods. CONCLUSIONS: Daily bathing of ICU patients with chlorhexidine-impregnated clothes significantly decreased the rate of HAI-ICU and the acquisition of CRI. This simple hygienic approach can be an important adjunctive intervention with the capability of reducing the burden of healthcare-associated infections in ICUs.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. METHODS: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. RESULTS: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically.

Urinary tract infections in intensive care unit patients - a single-centre, 3-year observational study according to the INICC project.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients with urinary catheters could be a serious complication of hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A prospective study (01.01.2012-31.12.2014) was conducted in the 20-bed ICU of the University Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. The frequency (density, incidence) and aetiology of UTI as well as prophylactic method compliance were estimated in patients of the ICU according to the INICC project. RESULTS: Among 1261 ICU patients, urinary tract infections were diagnosed in 91 (7%). The incidence index was 7.25/100 admissions to the ICU. CA-UTI constituted 36% of the device-associated, healthcare-associated infections (n = 255). A urinary catheter was used in 92.21 ± 4.51% of patients during 14,006 patient-days and 12,917 urinarycatheter- days. The density of CA-UTI/1000 catheter-days was 6.44, 6.84, 7.16 during the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. The main pathogens of CA-UTI were Enterococcus spp. (22%), Acinetobacter baumannii (20%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13%), and Candida spp. (13%). Only in four elements of the "Urinary Catheter Bundle" was 100% compliance noted. CONCLUSIONS: In the observed period of time, the incidence of CA-UTI was higher than in the INICC (2014) report and the NHSN/CDC (2012) report. Analysis of compliance with a "Urinary Catheter Bundle" to prevent UTI shows low implementation of preventative methods with the INICC protocol.

Continuous vs. intermittent vancomycin therapy for Gram-positive infections not caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vancomycin pharmacokinetics (PKs) on effectiveness and safety in the treatment of Gram-positive infections due to pathogens other than methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS: Prospective study including septic patients received either continuous (N.=21) or intermittent (N.=21) infusions of vancomycin; the target drug concentration was 15-20 mg/L and target area under the curve of vancomycin concentrations over the minimum inhibitory concentration of the pathogen on day 1 (AUC24/MIC) >400. Clinical and microbiological responses, the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and therapy costs were recorded. RESULTS: The median AUC24/MIC was 195(133-343) vs. 189(136-328) mg/L*h in the continuous and intermittent infusion groups. Target drug concentrations were achieved in 15/21 vs. 9/21 (P=0.12) patients and AUC24/MIC>400 in only 5/21 vs. 3/21 (P=0.35) patients of continuous and intermittent groups, respectively. High clinical cure (17/21 for continuous vs. 17/21 for intermittent, P=1.00) and microbiological eradication (17/21 vs. 15/21, P=0.47) were observed in both groups and not associated with drug concentrations or with AUC24/MIC. AKI was diagnosed during therapy in 5/21 patients in the continuous group and 8/21 in the intermittent group (P=0.32). The median total therapy costs were lower in the continuous than in the intermittent group (377 [304-485] vs. 552 [371-644] €, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin resulted in high clinical response during non-MRSA Gram-positive infections treatment even at drug concentrations lower than those for MRSA. A continuous infusion of vancomycin was associated with a significant reduction in therapy costs compared to intermittent infusions.