A survey on the prevalence of health care-associated infections at the Fann University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of health care-associated infections (HAIs) at Fann Hospital, describe the profile of patients with HAI, and identify the causative pathogens.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of the records of patients hospitalized in eight departments of the Fann University Hospital for a microbiologically confirmed HAI from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024. Data were collected using an HAI surveillance form and analyzed using R software version 4.4.0.

Results: Over a 3-month period, 62 cases of HAI were recorded out of a total of 1725 patients, giving a hospital attack rate of 3.5%. The median age of the patients was 59 years (interquartile range: 68-47). Males predominated (54.8%). Hospitalized patients came directly from their homes (40.3%) or from other university hospitals (35.5%). Arterial hypertension (29%) and diabetes mellitus (19.3%) were the main comorbidities. A history of previous surgery was found in 8% of the cases. Fever was the most common clinical manifestation (71%), followed by respiratory symptoms (29%). The medical devices used were venous (100%) and urinary catheters (54.5%). The most frequently isolated bacteria were (23.6%), (21.8%), and (21.8%). In terms of the resistance phenotype, 43.6% and 21.8% of patients had extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant , respectively. During hospitalization, 45 patients received nonspecific antibiotic therapy at the time of HAI. Death occurred in 11 patients, representing a fatality rate of 17.7%.

Conclusions: The quarterly prevalence of HAIs was high in our hospital. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the factors associated with their occurrence.