Impact of COVID-19 on HAIs in Arizona

Editor's Note

This study by researchers from the Arizona Department of Health finds that healthcare associated infections (HAIs) significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs).

From 2016 through 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona acute care hospitals reported that HAIs decreased significantly:

• CLABSIs decreased 32%.
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) decreased 25%.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections decreased 41%.
• Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) decreased 36%.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, acute care hospitals reported that CLABSIs significantly increased 60% and MRSA bloodstream infections significantly increased 45%. ICUs reported a 176% significant increase in CLABSIs and a 49% significant increase in CAUTIs.

Future recommendations should focus on prevention activities and interventions specific to CLABSI and CAUTI occurrence in ICUs, the researchers say.