title: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) pilot point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use.
abstract: A standardised methodology for a combined point prevalence survey (PPS) on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals developed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was piloted across Europe. Variables were collected at national, hospital and patient level in 66 hospitals from 23 countries. A patient-based and a unit-based protocol were available. Feasibility was assessed via national and hospital questionnaires. Of 19,888 surveyed patients, 7.1% had an HAI and 34.6% were receiving at least one antimicrobial agent. Prevalence results were highest in intensive care units, with 28.1% patients with HAI, and 61.4% patients with antimicrobial use. Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections (2.0% of patients; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8–2.2%) represented the most common type (25.7%) of HAI. Surgical prophylaxis was the indication for 17.3% of used antimicrobials and exceeded one day in 60.7% of cases. Risk factors in the patient-based protocol were provided for 98% or more of the included patients and all were independently associated with both presence of HAI and receiving an antimicrobial agent. The patient-based protocol required more work than the unit-based protocol, but allowed collecting detailed data and analysis of risk factors for HAI and antimicrobial use.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarb
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coignard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griskeviciene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vankerckhoven
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weist
authors.forename: Mm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaerenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Catry
authors.forename: Dl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monnet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suetens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents