COVID-19 Is Altering the Landscape of Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospitals markedly affected by COVID-19 saw rising incidence of central-line–associated bloodstream infections but not catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Providing inpatient care for patients with COVID-19 has required many operational adjustments (e.g., high-level personal protective equipment, isolation rooms, escalated respiratory and critical care support). Has this affected incidence of hospital-acquired infections? Researchers analyzed data from a U.S. multihospital healthcare system for March 2019 through February 2020 (prepandemic) versus March through August 2020 (pandemic) to assess how these changes affected incidence of central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) reported to the CDC National Health Safety Network.

Incidence of CLABSIs per 10,000 patient days rose from 1.0 (prepandemic) to 1.6 (pandemic; predomi…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

COVID-19 Is Altering the Landscape of Hospital-Acquired Infections

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Reviewing Author