Hand hygiene (HH) is one of the most important infection prevention and control strategies at the hospital level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential COVID-19 pandemic impact on HH practices and rate of healthcare-associated infections. Data on alcohol-based handrub consumption (AHC) and antimicrobial resistance across 27 Italian hospitals over the period 2017-2021 were considered. Data on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria (CRE) were extracted from the antimicrobial resistance regional surveillance system. A significant increase was highlighted, with a peak in 2020 and a partial fall in 2021 for AHC (p < 0.001). The decrease in MRSA rates in 2021 compared to 2017-2019 was significant (p = 0.013). A significant Spearman's correlation between AHC and CRE rates was found (Spearman's rho -0.646, p = 0.032). This study supports the importance of AHC monitoring and showed that improving AHC was an attainable goal in the COVID-19 era. However, other strategies are needed to maintain the high levels of AHC attained during the pandemic, in order to avoid a progressive drop that has already begun in 2021. Furthermore, our results support the inverse relationship between AHC and infection rates and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Hand Hygiene and Antimicrobial Resistance in the COVID-19 Era: An Observational Study

Russotto, Antonino;Rolfini, Edoardo;Paladini, Giovanni;Gastaldo, Claudia;Vicentini, Costanza
;
Zotti, Carla Maria
2023-01-01

Abstract

Hand hygiene (HH) is one of the most important infection prevention and control strategies at the hospital level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential COVID-19 pandemic impact on HH practices and rate of healthcare-associated infections. Data on alcohol-based handrub consumption (AHC) and antimicrobial resistance across 27 Italian hospitals over the period 2017-2021 were considered. Data on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria (CRE) were extracted from the antimicrobial resistance regional surveillance system. A significant increase was highlighted, with a peak in 2020 and a partial fall in 2021 for AHC (p < 0.001). The decrease in MRSA rates in 2021 compared to 2017-2019 was significant (p = 0.013). A significant Spearman's correlation between AHC and CRE rates was found (Spearman's rho -0.646, p = 0.032). This study supports the importance of AHC monitoring and showed that improving AHC was an attainable goal in the COVID-19 era. However, other strategies are needed to maintain the high levels of AHC attained during the pandemic, in order to avoid a progressive drop that has already begun in 2021. Furthermore, our results support the inverse relationship between AHC and infection rates and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
2023
12
3
583
591
COVID-19; Italy; antimicrobial resistance; hand hygiene; healthcare-associated infections; infection control
Russotto, Antonino; Rolfini, Edoardo; Paladini, Giovanni; Gastaldo, Claudia; Vicentini, Costanza; Zotti, Carla Maria
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1932280
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