A study has revealed pivotal insights on risk factors related to in-hospital (nosocomial) SARS-CoV-2 infections, as well as the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing these infections in hospitals located in the Stockholm region. Risk factors investigated were divided into two main categories: individual attributes such as age, sex and existing health conditions; and factors related to patient care, including the number of patient transfers and type of hospital unit.
The study implemented a case-control methodology, pairing each case with up to ten controls based on admission date, length of patient stay, and the time frame. Analyses of 2,711 cases against 27,065 controls revealed that older age (90+ years), male gender, and pre-existing chronic lung disease increased the likelihood of nosocomial infection.
Significant care-related risk factors included patient admission to geriatric hospital units and a higher count of transfers during the care process. It was found that three-dose vaccination offered the most effective prevention against infection risk.
The study goes on to explain that the risk of infection can be further mitigated by focusing attention towards high-risk hospital areas and by reducing the number of patient transfers amid their hospital stay. Furthermore, the researchers showed that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is overall effective in reducing the risk of nosocomial infections and could be a key preventive measure, particularly amidst high-risk patient groups.
Ultimately, this research lays out important findings on both individual and care-related risk factors associated with nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections. It also highlights the significance of the role played by vaccination in lowering the risk of nosocomial infection.
Source: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-025-11349-9