[Healthcare-associated infections on readmission: 1 in 3 is linked to previous hospital admission].

Objective: To gain insight into the prevalence of healthcare-associated (HAI) infections in hospital patients in the Netherlands, and their link with previous hospital admission.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Method: This prevalence study was carried out in 36 hospitals at 42 locations in the Netherlands in March 2014. All inpatients at the time of the study were evaluated for the presence of an HAI, according to the standard protocol and in accordance with internationally determined definitions. It was subsequently determined whether the HAI had been acquired during the current admission or was linked to a previous recent admission. Readmission had to have taken place within a predetermined time period.

Results: A total of 9,420 patients were evaluated for the presence of an HAI; 470 (5.0%) HAI were reported, of which almost 36% was linked to a previous admission. Two-thirds of the HAI were post-operative surgical-site infections. Almost 88% of the patients with HAI were treated with antibiotics, versus 32% of the patients without HAI.

Conclusion: Registration of HAI on admission to hospital provides insight into the frequency of HAI that become apparent after discharge. There is no insight into the treatment frequency of HAI by general practitioners. An inventory of the treatment frequency of HAI in primary care is advised, to evaluate infection-prevention policy in hospitals and to optimise primary care.