V Bordino1, C Vicentini2, A D'Ambrosio2, F Quattrocolo2, C M Zotti2. 1. Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: valerio.bordino@unito.it. 2. Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are an increasing public health threat. Measuring disease burden in disability adjusted life-years (DALYs) allows to combine morbidity and mortality in one figure, as it represents the summation of years lived with disability and years of life lost. AIM: To evaluate the incidence, attributable deaths and burden of the most significant HAIs in Italy. METHODS: Prevalence data from the study sample of the 2016 national national Point Prevalence Survey of HAIs in acute-care settings were used to estimate the incidence of five HAIs. The methodology from the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE)-project was employed for DALY calculations, adapting the disease models to the Italian population. FINDINGS: We estimated a total of 641,065 (95% uncertainty interval, UI 585,543.00 - 699,207.90) new yearly cases of HAIs and 29,375 (95% UI 23,705.97 - 35,905.80) deaths in Italy in 2016. The total annual DALYs were estimated to be 424,657.45 (95% UI 346,240.35 - 513,357.28), corresponding to 702.53 DALYs (95% UI 575.22 - 844.66) per 100,000 general population. BSI accounted for the majority of total DALYs (59%), HAP for 29%, SSI for 9%, CDI for 2% and UTI accounted for less than 1% of total DALYs. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest HAIs have a substantial burden in Italy. Reducing the burden of HAIs through infection prevention and control efforts is an achievable goal. This study provides data that could be used to guide policy-makers in the implementation of these measures.
BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are an increasing public health threat. Measuring disease burden in disability adjusted life-years (DALYs) allows to combine morbidity and mortality in one figure, as it represents the summation of years lived with disability and years of life lost. AIM: To evaluate the incidence, attributable deaths and burden of the most significant HAIs in Italy. METHODS: Prevalence data from the study sample of the 2016 national national Point Prevalence Survey of HAIs in acute-care settings were used to estimate the incidence of five HAIs. The methodology from the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE)-project was employed for DALY calculations, adapting the disease models to the Italian population. FINDINGS: We estimated a total of 641,065 (95% uncertainty interval, UI 585,543.00 - 699,207.90) new yearly cases of HAIs and 29,375 (95% UI 23,705.97 - 35,905.80) deaths in Italy in 2016. The total annual DALYs were estimated to be 424,657.45 (95% UI 346,240.35 - 513,357.28), corresponding to 702.53 DALYs (95% UI 575.22 - 844.66) per 100,000 general population. BSI accounted for the majority of total DALYs (59%), HAP for 29%, SSI for 9%, CDI for 2% and UTI accounted for less than 1% of total DALYs. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest HAIs have a substantial burden in Italy. Reducing the burden of HAIs through infection prevention and control efforts is an achievable goal. This study provides data that could be used to guide policy-makers in the implementation of these measures.