Influencing factors and burden of hospital-acquired infections among cancer patients 

Abstract

Background To explore the influencing factors and evaluate the economic loss of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) in cancer patients so as to provide evidence for reasonable prevention policies and measures. Methods Patients who were discharged for the first time from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2022 were recruited. Data were obtained from the medical record system and the nosocomial infection surveillance system. Logistic regression model was adopted to analyze the influencing factors of HAIs. By using 1:1 case-control matching and Wilcoxon signed rank test, economic loss and length of hospital stay (LOS) caused by HAIs were estimated. Results A total of 45030 cancer patients were enrolled in this study, of which 457 suffered HAIs. Logistic regression analysis showed that older age, longer retention days of deep vein catheter, longer indwelling days of urinary catheter, diabetes mellitus, male, surgical operation, and myelosuppression were all independent risk factors for HAIs (odds ratios ranges from 1.01 to 10.68). The analysis of 256 matched pairs presented that the total hospitalization expenditure and self-paid expenditure of the HAI group (114.79, 51.56 thousand-yuan, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the non-HAI group (77.15, 34.68 thousand-yuan, respectively). Compared with non-HAI group, the LOS in HAI group was significantly longer by 8 days. Conclusions HAIs lead to the increase of direct economic burden and LOS in cancer patients. Cancer patients who are male, older age, administrated with invasive operations, with diabetes mellitus and myelosuppression are more susceptible to HAIs.