Healthcare-associated infections in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta-analysis of point-prevalence studies.

This study investigated the point prevalence and types of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among hospitalized patients in the Middle East using a systematic review and meta-analysis design. PubMed and Scopus database searches were used to identify point-prevalence studies that included hospitalized patients in the Middle East until December 2025. The articles were subjected to title and abstract screening and full-text assessment. Review Manager version 5.4 was used for a random-effects meta-analysis. Of the 8300 identified articles, 15 articles that reported the result of 14 studies were included. The pooled point-prevalence of HAIs in the Middle East was 10.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.86-11.50). The point prevalence in Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia was 10.9% (95% CI: 9.41-12.51), 9.1% (8.41-9.83), and 6.8% (5.87-7.73), respectively. The critical care unit had the highest prevalence of HAIs (27.9%; 95% CI: 19.13-36.74), followed by surgery (8.9%; 95% CI: 6.57-11.38) and internal medicine (7.6%; 95% CI: 6.55-8.72). Lower respiratory tract infections (2.9%; 95% CI: 2.07-3.76), urinary tract infections (1.51%; 95% CI: 1.51-2.44), and bloodstream infections (1.9%; 95% CI: 1.40-2.58) were reported. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.0-53.6%), Klebsiella specie (7.2-44.4%), and Escherichia coli (8.9-32.4%) were the major cause of HAIs. The point prevalence of HAIs in the Middle East is relatively high, and this highlights the need to improve infection prevention and control strategies and for continuous surveillance of HAIs to improve patient safety.