Hospitalization reasons as risk factors for hospital-acquired infections and hospital-acquired resistant infections in adults.

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization reasons may reflect vulnerability and influence risks of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and resistant infections (HARI).

AIM: To evaluate the association between hospitalization reasons and the risk of HAI and HARI.

METHODS

We analyzed 17,240 adult admissions (2020-2022). Reasons were coded using ICD-9 diagnostic categories. HAI/HARI were identified by antibiotic susceptibility testing. Generalized linear models assessed crude and adjusted associations.

RESULTS

Infections occurred in 322 patients (1.9%). Compared with tissue, skeleton and nervous system disorders, adjusted HAI risk was higher for endocrine, metabolic and immunity disorders (OR = 3.1; 95.0% CI: 1.8-5.3; P< .001), neoplasms (OR = 2.3; 95.0% CI: 1.3-4.0, P = .002), genitourinary disorders (OR = 2.4; 95.0% CI: 1.0-3.8, P = .020), circulatory and blood disorders (OR = 1.9; 95.0% CI: 1.2-3.0, P = .002) and digestive disorders (OR = 1.7; 95.0% CI: 1.1-2.4, P = .004). Circulatory and blood disorders also increased HARI risk (OR = 3.0; 95.0% CI: 1.5-6.1, P = .002). Respiratory disorders showed the strongest associations for both outcomes (HAI: OR = 5.0; 95.0% CI: 3.4-7.4, P < .001, HARI: OR = 6.5; 95.0% CI: 3.4-12.2, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying high-risk groups may guide tailored infection control and reduce burden.