Health-care associated infections in the two university hospitals of southern Tunisia: a point prevalence survey.

Introduction: Despite advances in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in recent decades, this once-almost-usual adverse event remains relatively common and still has a definite impact on patients and public health. In light of this, this study aimed to determine the HAI prevalence, to describe their main specificities and to identify their associated factors, in Southern Tunisia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess HAI point prevalence in two university hospitals in southern Tunisia. The study was started on February 20 Results: There were 1.028 patients included in the survey and (47.3%) of them were women (n=486). The median age was 48 years (Interquartile Range (IQR)=[30-65]) years. We noted 86 HAI in the two establishments visited, with a global HAI prevalence of 8.4%. Multivariate analyses showed that independent factors of HAI were immune suppression (AOR=2.5; p=0.004), hospital stay duration ≥ 6 (AOR=4.5; p<0.001), surgery 30 days prior to the study date (AOR=1.9; p=0.021), having central vascular catheter (AOR=2.44; p=0.032) and having intubation or endotracheal tube (AOR=3.5; p=0.002). Conclusions: This study highlighted a relatively high prevalence of HAI in southern Tunisia. Therefore, urgent and ongoing corrective measures should be implemented, maintained and re-evaluated continuously in order to control HAI and promote care safety.