HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS AT SELECTED HOSPITALS IN THAILAND

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), all-cause mortality, document the bacterial pathogens isolated in HAIs, and determine the risk factors associated with HAIs and all-cause mortality at selected hospitals in Thailand. A survey with a total time frame of 10 days was conducted at selected 50 hospitals across Thailand during January 2014: 19 primary government hospitals, 15 secondary government hospitals, 13 tertiary government hospitals, 2 private hospitals and 1 government university hospital. Of 15,475 cases reviewed, 688 patients had 791 HAIs (1.1 HAI per infected patient). The rate of HAI was 4.4% (95%CI: 4.1-4.8): 7.3% (95%CI: 4.6-9.3) at the university hospital surveyed, 5.0% (95%CI: 4.6-5.4) at the tertiary hospitals surveyed, 3.9% (95%CI: 3.4-4.6) at the secondary hospitals surveyed, 2.0% (95%CI: 1.3-2.7) at the primary hospitals surveyed, and 1.6% (95%CI: 0.5-2.8) at the private hospitals surveyed. The ward with the frequent number of HAI was the intensive care unit (17%). The two most commonly affected age ranges were those aged >60 years and