Evaluation of Healthcare-associated Infection Rates in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Overview

Journal Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2022 Oct 31

PMID 36310802

Authors

Laura J Bobbitt

Gowri Satyanarayana

Laura Van Metre Baum

Caroline A Nebhan

Adetola A Kassim

Katie S Gatwood

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether rates of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) changed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in malignant hematology and stem cell transplant patients.

Design: A retrospective, cohort study.

Patients: The study included malignant hematology and stem cell transplant patients admitted between March 1, 2019, through July 31, 2019, and March 1, 2020, through July 31, 2020.

Methods: Rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), central-line-associated mucosal barrier injury infections (CLAMBIs), and infections (CDIs) during the pandemic were compared to those in a control cohort. Secondary outcomes included the rate of non-COVID-19 respiratory viruses.

Results: The rate of CAUTIs per 1,000 hospital days was 0.435 before the pandemic and 0.532 during the pandemic (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.224; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0314-47.72; = .899). The rate of CLABSIs was 0.435 before the pandemic and 1.064 during the pandemic (IRR, 2.447; 95% CI, 0.186-72.18; = .516). The rate of CLAMBIs was 2.61 before the pandemic and 1.064 during the pandemic (IRR 0.408, 95% CI 0.057-1.927; = .284). The rate of CDIs was 2.61 before the pandemic and 1.579 during the pandemic (IRR, 0.612; 95% CI, 0.125-2.457; = .512). Non-COVID-19 respiratory virus cases decreased significantly from 12 (30.8%) to 2 cases (8.3%) ( = 0.014).

Conclusions: There was no significant difference in HAIs among inpatient malignant hematology and stem cell transplant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those of a control cohort. Rates of infection were low among both cohorts. Rates of community-acquired respiratory viruses decreased significantly during the pandemic among this population.

Citing Articles

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abubakar U, Awaisu A, Khan A, Alam K Antibiotics (Basel). 2023; 12(11).

PMID: 37998802 PMC: 10668951. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12111600.

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