Secondary gains of strategies to prevent COVID 19 infection in neonatal intensive care unit: has the frequency of healthcare-associated infections decreased?

Abstract

Abstract Purpose We aimed to compare the frequency and distribution of healthcare associated infections (HAI) in the neonatal intensive care unit at two different times (during pre-COVID-19 period and during COVID-19 period). Our hypothesis as infection control measures taken due to COVID-19 infection have a positive effect on reducing the frequency of HAIs in the neonatal intensive care unit. Method Our study was conducted between March - September 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period) and March - September 2020 (during COVID-19 period). All cases with HAIs were included. Demographic characteristics, interventional procedures, feeding style, morbidity and mortality and infection foci were recorded in the case follow-up form. The data obtained in the two periods were compared. Results During the determined study period, 427 babies in the pre-COVID-19 period and 530 babies in the COVID-19 period were evaluated. HAIs were determined in 47 patients (60 attack) and 39 patients (44 attack) in the pre-COVID-19 period and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. HAIs incidence density were found 5.43 in pre-COVID-19 period and 4.87 in COVID-19 period. During the COVID-19 period, there was a significant decrease in the healthcare-associated infection incidence density, hospital-associated infection rate and bloodstream infection (p:0.009). No statistical difference was found in catheter-related infection rate (p:0.35) and ventilator associated pneomonia rate (p:0.19). Conclusions It has been determined that COVID-19 infection prevention strategies reduce the frequency of healthcare associated infection especially in bloodstream infection in neonatal intensive care units.