Implementing Infection Control Unit and Antimicrobial Use Committee Policies and Guidelines to Reduce the Incidence of Healthcare-associated Infections

ABSTRACT

To prevent or reduce the incidence and prevalence of infections, infection prevention and con-trol strategies are utilized. Antibiotic stewardship programs are also utilized to avoid antimicrobial-related toxicity, lower the costs of inappropriate antimicrobial usage, and reduce health-care-associated infections. The present study aimed to describe the effect of implementing infection control unit and antimicrobial use committee policies and guidelines in reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections. Data for all infected cases confirmed by an infection disease specialist between 2019 and 2021 was exported. The informa-tion was gathered from the reports written by the infection control unit. Central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was decreased from 1.15 per 1000 central line days in 2019 to 0 per 1000 central line days in 2021, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections rate decreased from 1.01 per 1000 urinary catheter days in 2019 to 0 per 1000 urinary catheter days in 2021, ventilator-associated pneumonia rate decreased from 2.11 per 1000 ventilator days in 2019 to 0 per 1000 ventilator days in 2019, surgical site infection rate decreased from 0.41% un 2019 to 0.2% in 2021, the rate of MDRO was decreased from 3.95 per 1000 patient days to 2.3 per 1000 patient days in 2021. Infection control unit practices, as well as an antibiotic stewardship program, were highly effective in preventing healthcare-associated infections, with significant decreases in antibiotic resistance.