AUTHOR=Huang Huifang , Wu Kunhai , Chen Haiming , Wang Jing , Chen Lufei , Lai Zhirun , Lin Shuling 

TITLE=The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nosocomial infections: a retrospective analysis in a tertiary maternal and child healthcare hospital

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1132323

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1132323

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objective: The constant changes in the control strategies of the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic have greatly affected the prevention and control of nosocomial infections (NIs). This study assessed the impact of these control strategies on the surveillance of NIs in a regional maternity hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This retrospective study compared the observation indicators of nosocomial infections and their changing trends in the hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Results: In total, 256092 patients were admitted to the hospital during the study. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals were E. coli, S. agalactiae, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and E. faecalis. The detection rate of S. agalactiae increased annually, while that of E. faecalis remained the same. The detection rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria decreased during the pandemic (16.86% vs. 11.42%), especially that of CRKP (carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae 13.14% vs. 4.39, P<0.001). The incidence of nosocomial infections in the pediatric surgery department decreased significantly (OR: 2.031, 95% CI: 1.405-2.934, P<0.001). Regarding the source of infection, a significant reduction was observed in respiratory infections, followed by gastrointestinal infections. In routine monitoring of the ICU, the incidence of CLABSI (central line associated-bloodstream infection) decreased significantly (9.4/1000 catheter days vs. 2.2/1000 catheter days, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The incidence of nosocomial infections was lower than that before the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the number of nosocomial infections, especially that of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and catheter-related infections.