Narrative Review of the Epidemiology of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are the most common healthcare-associated infections, with rates varying between countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among common HAP/VAP pathogens has been reported, and multidrug resistance (MDR) is of further concern across Middle Eastern countries. This narrative review summarizes the incidence and pathogens associated with HAP/VAP in hospitals across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A PubMed literature search was limited to available data on HAP or VAP in patients of any age published within the past 10 years. Reviews, non-English language articles, and studies not reporting HAP/VAP data specific to a GCC country were excluded. Overall, 41 articles, a majority of which focused on VAP, were selected for inclusion after full-text screening. Studies conducted over multiple years showed a general reduction in VAP rates over time, with Gram-negative bacteria the most commonly reported pathogens. Gram-negative isolates reported across GCC countries included Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Rates of AMR varied widely among studies, and MDR among A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus isolates was commonly reported. In Saudi Arabia, between 2015 and 2019, rates of carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative bacteria were 19-25%; another study (2004-2009) reported antimicrobial resistance rates in Acinetobacter species (60-89%), P. aeruginosa (13-31%), and Klebsiella species (100% ampicillin, 0-13% other antimicrobials). Although limited genotype data were reported, OXA-48 was found in ≥ 68% of patients in Saudi Arabia with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections. Ventilator utilization ratios varied across studies, with rates up to 0.9 reported in patients admitted to adult medical/surgical intensive care units in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. VAP remains a burden across GCC countries albeit with decreases in rates over time. Evaluation of prevention and treatment measures and implementation of a surveillance program could be useful for the management of HAP and VAP.

Perspectives on how to navigate cancer surgery in the breast, head and neck, skin, and soft tissue tumor in limited-resource countries during COVID-19 pandemic

The rapidly spreading coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide has contracted all aspects of health systems. Developing countries that mostly have a weaker healthcare system and insufficient resources are likely to be the most hardly affected by the pandemic. Cancers are frequently diagnosed in late stages with higher case-fatality rates compared to those in high-income countries. Delayed diagnosis, lack of cancer awareness, low adherence to treatment, and unequal or limited access to treatment are among the challenging factors of cancer management in developing countries. Elective cancer surgeries are often considered to be postponed during COVID-19 pandemic to preserve valuable hospital resources such as personal protection equipment, hospital bed, intensive care unit capacity, and manpower to screen and treat the affected individuals. However, specific considerations to defer cancer surgery in developing countries might need to be carefully adjusted to counterbalance between preventing COVID-19 transmission and preserving patients 'long-term life expectancy and quality of life.

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium's multidimensional approach on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 14 intensive care units in 11 hospitals of 5 cities within Argentina

BACKGROUND

To analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional approach (IMA) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in 11 hospitals within 5 cities of Argentina from January 2014-April 2017.

METHODS

A multicenter, prospective, before-after surveillance study was conducted through the use of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium Surveillance Online System. During baseline, we performed outcome surveillance of VAP applying the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention's National Healthcare Safety Network. During intervention, we implemented the IMA, which included a bundle of infection prevention practice interventions, education, outcome surveillance, process surveillance, feedback on VAP rates and consequences, and performance feedback of process surveillance. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using a logistic regression model to estimate the effect of the intervention.

RESULTS

We recorded 3,940 patients admitted to 14 intensive care units. At baseline, there were 19.9 VAPs per 1,000 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days-with 2,920 MV-days and 58 VAPs, which was reduced during intervention to 9.4 VAPs per 1,000 MV-days-with 9,261 MV-days and 103 VAPs. This accounted for a 52% rate reduction (incidence density rate, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.7; P .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing the IMA was associated with significant reductions in VAP rates in intensive care units within Argentina.