Study shows enhanced pandemic-related infection prevention and control practices reduced incidence of healthcare-associated infections

A new study conducted by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that enhanced infection prevention and control (IPC) measures implemented to address the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a significant decrease in many healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and a reduction in respiratory viral infections (RVIs). The findings, published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), provide some of the first evidence that strict pandemic-related IPC interventions reduced HAI rates among vulnerable patient populations.

“Previous, large-scale studies revealed an alarming increase in some HAIs during the pandemic, which may be partly attributed to the necessary, dramatic shift in institutional IPC priorities,” said Roy F. Chemaly, M.D., MPH, Chair of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health at MD Anderson, and the lead author on the published study. “Our findings suggest that enhanced and targeted IPC measures enabled our facility to avoid these increases and, in several cases, significantly reduce the incidence of HAIs among our patient population during the pandemic.”

Beginning in March 2020, M.D. Anderson deployed enhanced IPC practices to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, including high-level personal protective equipment, universal masking, enhanced environmental disinfection, and visitor restrictions, among others.

Dr. Chemaly and colleagues calculated the incidence rates (IRs) of six HAIs among the approximately 30,000 patients admitted annually at the cancer center from September 2016 through March 2022: C. difficile infection (C. diff), multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), respiratory viral infections (RVIs) and three device-related infections -- catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), and ventilator-associated events (VAE). The researchers then compared IRs for all HAIs for the 42 months prior to the pandemic (September 2016-February 2020) and the 25 months after the pandemic onset (March 2020-March 2022), as well as during the time of COVID-19 surges and in COVID-19-designated wards at the 767-bed facility.

Results show that the incidences of laboratory-identified C. diff (Li-CDI), CLABSI, and total RVIs at MD Anderson decreased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates of MDROs were unchanged except among patients on COVID-19 wards, and rates of other device-related infections remained stable. Specifically:

• The incidence of Li-CDI significantly decreased after the onset of the pandemic, from 6.58 cases per 10,000 patient days to 4.31, with a statistically significant incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.65. The Li-CDI rates were similar between surge and non-surge periods (0.43 during surge vs. 0.44 during non-surge periods).
• The total IR of nosocomial RVIs significantly decreased from the pre-pandemic to the pandemic period, from 5.24 to 1.90 per 1,000 admissions, with an IRR of 0.36. The IR did not change significantly between surge and non-surge periods. When evaluated individually, the IRs of SARS-CoV-2 and nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections were significantly higher during the surge period, while the IR of nosocomial influenza infection was comparatively lower.
• The overall IRs of nosocomial MDROs were similar from the pre-pandemic to the pandemic period (0.66-0.74 with an IRR of 1.22) and did not significantly change between surge and non-surge periods (0.16 vs. 0.14). Notably, the overall IR of MDROs in the COVID-19 wards was more than five times higher than in the other inpatient wards (1.99 vs. 0.35 with an IRR of 5.77).
• The rate of CLABSI significantly decreased during the pandemic, from 0.51 to 0.32 per 1,000 catheter days (IRR of 0.63). Notably, MD Anderson recorded 100% CLABSI bundle compliance in September 2022, with central line placement and maintenance completed exclusively by trained and experienced staff.
• The rates of CAUTI (0.75-0.66; IRR of 0.88) and VAE (3.10-1.82; IRR 0.60) did not significantly change between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

“The encouraging findings from this study suggest that prioritizing and investing in evidence-based IPC practices can reduce HAIs, even among particularly vulnerable populations during extreme situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Patricia Jackson, RN, BSN, MA, CIC, FAPIC, 2023 APIC president.

About APIC

Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org.

About AJIC

As the official peer-reviewed journal of APIC, The American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) is the foremost resource on infection control, epidemiology, infectious diseases, quality management, occupational health, and disease prevention. Published by Elsevier, AJIC also publishes infection control guidelines from APIC and the CDC. AJIC is included in Index Medicus and CINAHL. Visit AJIC at ajicjournal.org.

NOTE FOR EDITORS

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-acquired infections at a comprehensive cancer center,” by Rita Wilson Dib, MD; Amy Spallone, MD; Fareed Khawaja, MBBS; Adina Feldman, MPH; Sherry Cantu, MPH; and Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH, was published online in AJIC on October 5, 2023. The article may be found at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2023.08.019.

AUTHORS

Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH (corresponding author: rfchemaly@mdanderson.org)

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Rita Wilson Dib, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

Amy Spallone, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Fareed Khawaja, MBBS, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Adina Feldman, MPH, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Sherry Cantu, MPH, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

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