Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a surgical urology ward: observational study-analysis of the problem and strategies for implementation.

Our purpose is to present the results of our working group, with a view to reduce the incidence and improve the management of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a urology ward.

The study consists on an observational database designed with the view to analyse the incidence and characteristics of HAIs in Urology.

Based on the results obtained, a critical evaluation was carried out and specific measures put in place to reduce HAIs. Finally, the impact and results of the implemented measures were periodically evaluated.

The incidence of HAIs in urology decreased from 6.6 to 7.3% in 2012-2014 to 5.4-5.8% in 2016-2018. In patients with immunosuppression the incidence of HAIs decreased from 12.8 to 18% in 2012-2013 to 8.1-10.2% in 2017-2018, in those with a previous urinary infection fell from 13.6 to 4.8%, in those with a urinary catheter prior to admission from 12.6 to 10.8%, and in patients with a nephrostomy tube from 16 to 10.9%. The effect of the protocol also demonstrated a reduction in the percentage of patients with suspicion of HAIs for whom no culture was taken, from 6% in 2012 to zero in 2017 and 2018. Moreover, the implementation of protocols for empirical treatment has reduced the incidence of patients experiencing inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy from 20 to 8.1%.

It is essential to monitor the incidence of HAIs, and preventive measures play a useful role in reducing the rate of infection and in optimising their management.

World journal of urology. 2019 Jan 30 [Epub ahead of print]

José Medina-Polo, Javier Gil-Moradillo, Juan Justo-Quintas, Daniel Antonio González-Padilla, Esther García-Rojo, Alejandro González-Díaz, Pablo Abad-López, Mario Hernández-Arroyo, Rocío Santos-Pérez de la Blanca, Helena Peña-Vallejo, Julio Téigell-Tobar, Francisco López-Medrano, Ángel Tejido-Sánchez

Department of Urology and School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda. Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain. ., Department of Urology and School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda. Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain., Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Health Research Institute i + 12, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.