key: cord-0890444-ye87pszd
authors: Sookaromdee, Pathum; Wiwanitkit, Viroj
title: Hospital-acquired infections during COVID-19 pandemic: Correspondence
date: 2022-04-28
journal: Wien Med Wochenschr
DOI: 10.1007/s10354-022-00933-2
sha: d6c198248ce3378402badaffb3c49f6271565789
doc_id: 890444
cord_uid: ye87pszd

nan

We would like to share ideas on "Hospital-acquired infections in a tertiary hospital in Iran before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic [1] ." In their study, Mohammadi et al. examined and compared the incidence of nosocomial infections in a hospital for 9 months during the COVID-19 period to the 8 months in the pre-COVID era [1] . There has been no research on the impact of shifting the entire number of patients from the pre-to postepidemic period, not only instances with nosocomial infections. Enhanced infection prevention methods established in hospitals to limit the spread of a pandemic infection, according to Mohammadi et al., may not always reduce rates of other hospital-acquired infections during a pandemic [1] . Limited resources, personnel transfers, and staff shortages due to quarantine measures, according to Mohammadi et al., may hinder enhanced preventative practices from effectively managing nosocomial infections [1] .

We agree that infection control is an important concept regardless the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of hospital-acquired infection might or might not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic period. It is necessary to recognize the effect of increasing number of admitted patients during the outbreak. With a significant increase of hospitalized cases, there might be an increased number of nosocomial infections. In the study by Mohammadi et al., the analysis of an interrelationship P. Sookaromdee ( ) Private Academic Consultant, Bangkok, Thailand pathumsook@gmail.com V. Wiwanitkit Dr DY Patil University, Pune, India with overall number of hospitalizations might give more important observations. Finally, when there is a mass vaccination policy against COVID-19, medical personnel might sometimes neglect the universal prevention concept, which might be a possible cause of disease spreading [2] . For example, a post-vaccination COVID-19 outbreak was reported from a hospital in tropical Asia, and a rooted cause analysis revealed that vaccinated workers may overlook universal precautions, potentially leading to a post-vaccination COVID-19 outbreak [2] . Another study on the prevalence of post-vaccination COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers in the USA found that below-average facemask use was linked to a higher risk of infection for vaccinated healthcare workers [3] .

Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be a change in the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. It is possible that the situation will be different in different locations. The number of patients in the hospital at different periods during an outbreak in that environment, as well as the intensity with which local healthcare staff undertake universal prevention, are important elements that can affect the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in any context.

Hospital-acquired infections in a tertiary hospital in Iran before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection of healthcare personnel after complete COVID-19 vaccination

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential andfrontlineworkers: EightUSlocations

Conflict of interest P. Sookaromdee and V. Wiwanitkit declare that they have no competing interests.