Dr Tess Asgill1, A/Prof Douglas Stupart1,2
1Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
2Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Introduction: A number of infection control interventions were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the spread of this virus. The purpose of this study was to determine if these interventions were associated with a reduction in nosocomial bacterial infections in Victoria, Australia.
Methods: Observational data on nosocomial infections were obtained from the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) based on admitted hospital patients in six-month timeframes representing pandemic and pre-pandemic hospital practices. Data were collected for surgical site infections (specifically coronary artery bypass graft, Caesarean sections, colorectal surgery and hip and knee prostheses), Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia, Clostridiodies 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 = 0.003) 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 < 0.001). There was no change in the overall rate of surgical site infections or central line associated infections however.
Conclusion: 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.
Biography: After graduating from Griffith University in 2013 I completed my resident years in Brisbane at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. I then pursued training in General Surgery, successfully entering the SET training program in Victoria in 2020. I have presented previously at the RACS Annual Scientific Congress in 2017, where I won the Rural Section’s Best Paper prize, and completed my Masters of Surgery through the University of Sydney in 2018. Most recently I have been involved in the global CovidSurg 3 study capturing data on COVID-19 infected patients undergoing surgery during the pandemic.