Nosocomial bacterial infections in Victoria decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: A number of infection control interventions were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the spread of this virus.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if these interventions were associated with reduced nosocomial bacterial infections in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Observational data were obtained from the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) based on admitted hospital patients in two 6-month timeframes representing pandemic and pre-pandemic hospital practices. Data were collected for surgical site infections, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia, Clostridioides difficile infection, and central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Results: There was a significant reduction in the rates of S. aureus bacteraemia (0.74 infections/10, 000 bed days pre-pandemic vs. 0.53/10,000 bed days in the pandemic period [rate ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.90]; p = .003) and in C. difficile infections (2.2 infections/10,000 bed days pre-pandemic vs. 0.86/10 000 bed days in the pandemic era [rate ratio 0.76, 95% C.I. 0.67-0.86]; p <.001). There was no change in the overall rate of surgical site infections or central line-associated infections however.

Discussion: The increased emphasis on infection control and prevention strategies during the pandemic period was associated with reduced transmission of S. aureus and C. difficile infections within hospitals.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cross-infection; epidemiology; infection control; surgical site infection.

Figure 1.

Rates of surgical site infections. Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval. See Appendix 2 for values.

Figure 2.

Rates of non-surgical infections. Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval. See Appendix 2 for values.

Figure 3.

Staphylococcal aureus bacteraemia rates. Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval. See Appendix 2 for values.