Epidemiology of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder

Abstract

The overall incidence of HAIs in persons with SCI&D was higher than that reported for other populations, confirming the increased risk of HAI in persons with spinal cord injury. The increased risk associated with longer length of stay and with community-acquired infection suggests that strategies are needed to reduce the duration of hospitalization and to effectively treat community-acquired infection, to decrease infection rates. There is significant room for improvement in reducing the incidence of HAIs in this population.

Bloodstream infections and setting of onset in persons with spinal cord injury and disorder

“…Site 1 also had a higher overall BSI rate that may be explained by the longer length of hospitalization for all admissions at this site and the increased prevalence of antibiotic exposure, compared with site 2, as the length of the stay in the hospital and antibiotic exposure increases the risk of HA infection. 2 No other risk factors associated with development of infection, such as age or comorbidity status, differed across sites. Rates of different BSI types will vary across settings where persons with SCI receive treatment, depending on the prevalence of health-carerelated risk factors in the populations served.…”

“…1,2 The most common site of origin for BSI in persons with SCI&D is the urinary tract, 3,4 and risk factors include tetraplegia, older age, use of invasive devices and chronic conditions. [4][5][6] Frequently reported causative organisms of BSI are coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria.…”

“…[4][5][6] Frequently reported causative organisms of BSI are coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria. [2][3][4][5][6] Risk factors for hospital-acquired (HA) and communityacquired (CA) BSI have been well described in the general population. [7][8][9] However, little is known about the risk factors for BSI based on the epidemiologic or patient care setting.…”

Use of antibiotic and prevalence of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in-patients with spinal cord injuries: a UK national spinal injury centre experience

“…11 However, this may not be a characteristic that is shared among all patient groups. 12 SCI patients are at higher risk of hospital acquired infections because of longer hospital stay for acute and rehabilitation stay. 12 Newly-injured SCI patients require anticoagulation therapy to prevent venous thromboembolism.…”

“…12 SCI patients are at higher risk of hospital acquired infections because of longer hospital stay for acute and rehabilitation stay. 12 Newly-injured SCI patients require anticoagulation therapy to prevent venous thromboembolism. This increases the risk of gastric ulcers, therefore patients commonly receive a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to protect the stomach against this adverse effect.…”