title: Healthcare-associated infections in a Tunisian university hospital: from analysis to action.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our study was conducted, in university hospital center (UHC) Farhat Hached of Sousse (city in Tunisian center-east), within healthcare-associated infections (HAI) epidemiological surveillance (ES) program, based, among others, on HAI regular prevalence surveys. Our objectives are to resituate HAI prevalence rate and to identify their risk factors (RF) in order to adjust, in our hospital, prevention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a transversal descriptive study, including all patients who had been hospitalized for at least 48 hours, measuring prevalence of HAI a "given day", with only one passage by service. Risk factors were determined using Epiinfo 6.0, by uni-varied analysis, then, logistic regression stepwise descending for the variables whose p.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study focused on 312 patients. Infected patients prevalence was 12.5% and that of HAI was 14.5%. Infections on peripheral venous catheter (PVC) dominated (42.2%) among all HAI identified. HAI significant RF were neutropenia (p < 10(-4)) for intrinsic factors, and PVC for extrinsic factors (p = 0,003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predominance of infections on PVC should be subject of specific prevention actions, including retro-information strategy, prospective ES, professional practices evaluation and finally training and increasing awareness of health personnel with hygiene measures. Finally, development of a patient safety culture with personnel ensures best adherence to hygiene measures and HAI prevention.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nebiha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouafia
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Waadia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bannour
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medical Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse Tunisia.
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.affiliation: Hematology Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rym
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouriga
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Radhia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hellali
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Cheikh
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ezzi
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Abdeljellil
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hygiene Service, University Hospital Centre Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Njah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Healthcare-associated infections; Tunisia; regular prevalence surveys