Infections (both community-acquired and healthcare-associated)
are known to cause significant morbidity, mortality, and added costs in the
health care setting. Pathogens resistant to antimicrobial use (AU), which cause
infections, pose an ongoing and increasing challenge to hospitals, both in the
clinical treatment of patients and in
the prevention of the cross‑transmission of these problematic pathogens.
Infection prevalence studies provide insight into the sensitivity of the
surveillance system, the burden of infections on the healthcare system, and the
control measures implemented to help identify other events, such as follow-up
protocols of aseptic and antiseptic procedures or antimicrobial prescription,
that occur in the hospital setting.
Hence this point prevalence study is designed with an aim to contribute
to the optimization of prevention practices and control of these infections,
the rational use of antimicrobials and the strengthening or consolidation of epidemiological surveillance systems for infections
All patients who are hospitalized in the selected day
of the study, between April and November of 2017, and who meet the eligibility
criteria, will be included
Criteria for Patients
Patients are eligible, and will be included in the study, if
they are:
·
Admitted to the ward before
or at 09:00 a.m. on the day of the survey.
·
Neonates on maternity and
pediatric wards if born before/at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the survey.
Not discharged from the ward at the time of the survey
·
Patients have a confirmed
infection. Any type of infection can be considered regardless of origin and
microorganism
The following patients will be excluded
from the analysis:
·
Patients undergoing
“same-day” treatment or surgery.
·
Patients seen at an
outpatient department.
·
Patients in the emergency
room.
·
Patients undergoing
dialysis (outpatients)Patients in mental health units / Psychiatry wards,
either acute or long term
·
Patients categorized as
maintenance care type (awaiting nursing home placement)
Patients
currently on antimicrobial agents for prophylaxis