A strict mask policy for hospital staff effectively prevents nosocomial influenza infections and mortality: monocentric data from five consecutive influenza seasons.
Influenza
Mortality
Reduction of nosocomial infections
Strict mask policy
Journal
The Journal of hospital infection
ISSN: 1532-2939
Titre abrégé: J Hosp Infect
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8007166
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Mar 2022
Mar 2022
Historique:
received:
09
09
2021
revised:
09
12
2021
accepted:
13
12
2021
pubmed:
21
12
2021
medline:
8
3
2022
entrez:
20
12
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Influenza infections acquired in hospital show increased mortality, especially in elderly patients with risk factors. Nevertheless, vaccination rates are low among both high-risk patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). To more effectively prevent influenza infections in the hospital during the influenza season, a strict mouth-nose protection (MNP) requirement was introduced for all staff throughout the shift on the affected wards as an intervention and its effect on nosocomial infection rates was studied. The present data were obtained in a retrospective, monocentric analysis over a period of four consecutive influenza seasons from 2015 to 2019. MNP for all staff during the whole shift as an intervention was introduced in 2017 and for the following seasons if at least three influenza patients were in the ward at the same time. Data from hospitalized influenza patients before and after intervention were compared with regard to nosocomial incidences and mortality. In the years with strict mandatory MNP (2017-2019), the nosocomial influenza incidence fell nearly 50% (odds ratio: 0.40; 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.56; P < 0.001) accompanied by a significant reduction in nosocomial mortality by 85% (0.15; 0.02-0.70; P = 0.007). The infectious pressure indicated by influenza incidences and patient-days at risk were comparable before and after intervention, as was the low rate of vaccine uptake by nurses. Mandatory MNP for HCWs effectively protects patients from nosocomial influenza infections and mortality.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Influenza infections acquired in hospital show increased mortality, especially in elderly patients with risk factors. Nevertheless, vaccination rates are low among both high-risk patients and healthcare workers (HCWs).
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To more effectively prevent influenza infections in the hospital during the influenza season, a strict mouth-nose protection (MNP) requirement was introduced for all staff throughout the shift on the affected wards as an intervention and its effect on nosocomial infection rates was studied.
METHODS
METHODS
The present data were obtained in a retrospective, monocentric analysis over a period of four consecutive influenza seasons from 2015 to 2019. MNP for all staff during the whole shift as an intervention was introduced in 2017 and for the following seasons if at least three influenza patients were in the ward at the same time. Data from hospitalized influenza patients before and after intervention were compared with regard to nosocomial incidences and mortality.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
In the years with strict mandatory MNP (2017-2019), the nosocomial influenza incidence fell nearly 50% (odds ratio: 0.40; 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.56; P < 0.001) accompanied by a significant reduction in nosocomial mortality by 85% (0.15; 0.02-0.70; P = 0.007). The infectious pressure indicated by influenza incidences and patient-days at risk were comparable before and after intervention, as was the low rate of vaccine uptake by nurses.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Mandatory MNP for HCWs effectively protects patients from nosocomial influenza infections and mortality.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34929232
pii: S0195-6701(21)00442-4
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.12.010
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Influenza Vaccines
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
82-90Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.