Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in public hospitals in New Zealand, 2021

There are no contemporary data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in New Zealand. To determine the epidemiology of HAIs, prevalence of medical devices, and microbiology of HAIs in adults in public hospitals in New Zealand. Point prevalence survey. Surveyors reviewed patients aged ≥18 years using the HAI definitions of the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control. Device use and microbiology of HAIs were recorded. In total, 5468 patients were surveyed; 361 patients (6.6%) had 423 HAIs (7.7 HAIs per 100 patients). The most common HAIs were: surgical site infections (N=104, 25%), urinary tract infections (N=80, 19%), pneumonia (N=75, 18%) and bloodstream infections (N=55, 13%). Overall, 3585 patients (66%) had at least one device, with 2922 (53%) patients having a peripheral intravenous catheter. Sixty-nine (16%) HAIs were device-associated. On multi-variable analysis, independent risk factors for HAIs included the presence of a peripheral [odds ratio (OR) 2.0] or central (OR 5.7) intravenous catheter and clinical service. HAI rates were higher in surgical patients (OR 1.8), intensive care unit patients (OR 2.6) and rehabilitation/older persons' health patients (OR 2.4) compared with general medicine patients (P≤0.01 for all groups). In total, 301 organisms were identified. Clostridioides difficile infection was uncommon, accounting for 1.7% of all HAIs. Forty-two isolates (14%) were drug-resistant, and most (N=33, 79%) were Enterobacterales. This study established the most common HAIs and their risk factors in New Zealand. The high prevalence of device use underscores the need to ensure that proven multi-modal prevention interventions are in place. However, as less than half of HAIs are device- or surgery-associated, other intervention strategies will be required to reduce their burden.