A study recently published in JAMA Network Open delved into the frequency and associated institutional characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infections contracted within hospitals, otherwise referred to as hospital-onset cases, in the United States.
The crippling global disruption brought about by SARS-CoV-2 since 2020 has led to stringent infection control measures in American hospitals, with an increased emphasis on personal protective equipment usage, comprehensive masking, and testing of asymptomatic individuals.
Despite these measures, the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has spearheaded a surge in COVID-19 cases and consequently, a significant rise in hospital-onset cases. This study reinforced the necessity of further research into the occurrence rate of hospital-acquired COVID-19 in the U.S. and the institutional factors associated with it.
The comprehensive research undertaken spanned from July 2020 to June 2022, analyzing COVID-19 testing information provided by American hospitals to the PINC AI Healthcare Database. The study scrutinized the correlation between hospital-onset COVID-19 rates and various factors such as different COVID-19 periods, testing protocols, the specific SARS-CoV-2 strain in question, and distinct hospital-level variables. Individuals discharged within the studied month of hospitalization were considered for the study exposure. Using multivariate generalized estimating equation (GEE)-based regression modeling, associations were determined between the number of monthly SARS-CoV-2 hospital-onset cases per 1,000 patient-days and factors like COVID-19 period, hospital admission SARS-CoV-2 testing rates, and hospital-related factors such as teaching status, bed size, location, and more.
The study evaluated more than four million hospitalization records over almost two years, revealing that the majority of contributing hospitals were smaller in size, non-teaching, urban-located, and situated in the southern parts of the U.S. They found that hospital-onset COVID-19 occurred at rates similar to other healthcare-related infections. Increased SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and COVID-19 prevention measures are paramount in minimizing in-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission, especially in areas of high community COVID-19 incidence.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230830/How-frequent-are-hospital-onset-SARS-CoV-2-infections-and-what-hospital-characteristics-are-associated-with-rates-of-hospital-onset-SARS-CoV-2-infections.aspx