The Infection Prevention and Control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on the Prevalence of Hospital-Acquired Infections at Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) represent a growing public health concern and are the most common adverse events in healthcare delivery. Improvements in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices at both national and facility levels are decisive for  successfully preventing HAIs. The relevance of IPC in preventing the spread of disease was underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on HAIs remains debated.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the impact of the IPC program implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic at Sahloul University Hospital in Tunisia on the prevalence of HAIs. Additionally, the study will assess compliance with IPC measures during the same period.

METHODS

A pre-interventional study design will be conducted at Sahloul University Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. The study will compare HAI prevalence over three periods : pre-pandemic (2019), during the pandemic (2020) and post-pandemic (2022). For the Point prevalence srvey, all hospital wards (units or departments) will be included in the survey, except the emergency department, hemodialysis unit and endoscopy units. Four key IPC program criteria will be analyzed: hand hygiene compliance, environmental cleaning, sanitary waste management, and the consumption of personal protective resources, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer, surgical masks and disposable gloves. Expected results : This study specifically explores the effects of IPC measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic on HAIs prevlance. Its findings are expected to contribute valuable insights into sustainable strategies for maintaining high compliance rates and reducing HAI prevalence beyond crisis periods.