Healthcare-associated infections

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major public health concern worldwide, and our aim was to provide an update on HAIs and to develop an example of a protocol for an incidence survey and an approach to extra costs in hospitals. Methods: A bibliographical review of the literature was carried out in order to provide a theoretical review and to draw up a protocol. Results: The protocol was a cohort study with prospective data collection. To estimate incidence, we used 3 epidemiological indicators: cumulative incidence, incidence density and the medical device exposure ratio. To assess the cost of HCAIs, we were interested in the direct medical cost, which was presented in terms of expenditure linked to the length of hospital stay (comparing infected cases with uninfected controls), as well as expenditure linked to the consumption of antibiotics necessitated by these infections.Conclusion: A method for regularly monitoring the incidence and cost of these infections needs to be introduced in every hospital establishment for effective control.