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Healthcare-associated infections on the rise in Wales

A recent survey indicates that incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is growing in Wales since 2011.

The results of National Point Prevalence Survey of Healthcare Associated Infection, Device Usage and Antimicrobial Prescribing 2017, released recently showed 364 HCAIs reports in acute hospitals and 75 in non-acute hospitals, accounting for 5.5% and 6% of patients in the respective sectors. In comparison, the rates of HCAIs in acute and non-acute hospitals in 2011 were 4.3% and 3.2%, respectively.

In the acute sector, pneumonia was the most common infection accounting for 19.2% of infection cases. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and surgical site infections accounted for 15.9% and 11.3% of infections, respectively. In the non-acute sector, UTIs accounted for nearly half of the HCAIs. Pneumonia rose by 7% in acute hospitals from 2011, while UTIs rose by 9% in non-acute hospitals.

No significant change was observed for antimicrobial prescribing rates in both sectors. Device usage did not substantially change in the acute sector but increased slightly in the non-acute sector. Patients aged ≥65 years accounted for 67% and 88% of patients in acute and non-acute hospitals, respectively. The non-acute sector witnessed a 13% rise in patients aged ≥65 years.

Dr. Wendy Harrison, Senior Scientist at the Welsh Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Programme commented: "HCAIs are a significant burden on healthcare resources owing to increased morbidity and mortality, and excessive treatment costs. Many of them being preventable, they could be used to reflect the quality of patient care."


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