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The Prevalence of Health Care–Associated Infection in Older People in Acute Care Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Shona Cairns ,
Jacqui Reilly ,
Sally Stewart ,
Debbie Tolson ,
Jon Godwin  and
Paul Knight
Shona Cairns*
Affiliation:
Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Jacqui Reilly
Affiliation:
Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Sally Stewart
Affiliation:
Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Debbie Tolson
Affiliation:
Centre for Evidence-Based Care for Older People, Joanna Briggs Institute, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Jon Godwin
Affiliation:
Institute for Applied Health Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Paul Knight
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom
*
Health Protection Scotland, 1 Cadogan Square, Glasgow G2 7HF, United Kingdom (shona.cairns@nhs.net)
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Abstract

Objective.

To determine the prevalence of health care-associated infection (HAI) in older people in acute care hospitals, detailing the specific types of HAI and specialties in which these are most prevalent.

Design.

Secondary analysis of the Scottish National Healthcare Associated Infection Prevalence Survey data set.

Patients and Setting.

All inpatients in acute care (n = 11,090) in all acute care hospitals in Scotland (n = 45).

Results.

The study found a linear relationship between prevalence of HAI and increasing age (P<.0001) in hospital inpatients in Scotland. Urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal infections represented the largest burden of HAI in the 75–84- and over-85-year age groups, and surgical-site infections represented the largest burden in inpatients under 75 years of age. The prevalence of urinary catheterization was higher in each of the over-65 age groups (P<.0001). Importantly, this study reveals that a high prevalence of HAI in inpatients over the age of 65 years is found across a range of specialties within acute hospital care. An increased prevalence of HAI was observed in medical, orthopedic, and surgical specialties.

Conclusions.

HAI is an important outcome indicator of acute inpatient hospital care, and our analysis demonstrates that HAI prevalence increases linearly with increasing age (P<.0001). Focusing interventions on preventing urinary tract infection and gastrointestinal infections would have the biggest public health benefit. To ensure patient safety, the importance of age as a risk factor for HAI cannot be overemphasized to those working in all areas of acute care.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 32 , Issue 8 , August 2011 , pp. 763 - 767
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2011

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