Summary
Background
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major public health concern and a significant
cause of morbidity and mortality. A robust and current evidence base that is specific
to local, national and Europe-wide settings is necessary to inform the development
of strategies to reduce HCAI and contain antimicrobial resistance.
Aim
To measure the prevalence of HCAI and antimicrobial prescribing and identify key priority
areas for interventions to reduce the burden of infection.
Methods
A national rolling point-prevalence survey (PPS) in National Health Service (NHS)
acute, NHS non-acute, NHS paediatric, and independent hospitals was carried out between
September and November 2016 using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
protocol designed for the European PPS.
Findings
The prevalence of HCAI was 4.6%, 2.7%, and 3.2% in acute adults, paediatric and non-acute
patient groups, respectively. The most frequent HCAI types reported in adult patients
were urinary tract infection and pneumonia. The prevalence of antimicrobial prescribing
was 35.7%, 29.3%, and 13.8% in acute adults, paediatric, and non-acute patient groups,
respectively. Respiratory, skin and soft tissue, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract
infections were the most common infections being treated at the time of survey.
Conclusion
HCAI continues to be a public health concern in Scotland. Urinary tract infection
and pneumonia continue to place a significant burden on patients and on healthcare
delivery, including those that develop in the community and require hospital admission.
A broader population health approach which focuses on reducing the risk of infection
upstream would reduce these infections in both community and hospital settings.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 02, 2018
Accepted:
March 27,
2018
Received:
January 10,
2018
Identification
Copyright
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Healthcare Infection Society. All rights reserved.
