Evolution of healthcare-associated infections in adult intensive care units in the state of Amazonas, 2018–2022: an ecological study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the evolution of the incidence densities of healthcare-associated infections in adult intensive care units reported by hospitals in the state of Amazonas, from 2018 to 2022. Methods: An ecological, analytical, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, based on secondary data from mandatory notifications of healthcare-associated infections in public and private hospitals with adult intensive care units in Amazonas. Thirty-two hospitals with regular notifications during the analyzed period were included. The infections evaluated were ventilator-associated pneumonia, laboratory-confirmed primary bloodstream infection, and urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheters. Incidence densities were calculated per 1,000 device-days. Results: Between 2018 and 2022, 5,172 episodes of healthcare-associated infections were recorded. Ventilator-associated pneumonia had the highest number of cases, with 2,938 records and an average incidence density of 14.0%. Primary bloodstream infections totaled 1,352 records, with an average density of 4.5%, while urinary tract infections associated with urinary catheters totaled 882 records, with an average density of 3.4%. The time series showed fluctuations over the period, with no statistically significant trends (p>0.05). Conclusion: Healthcare-associated infections in adult intensive care units in Amazonas showed a pattern similar to that observed in other national contexts, with a predominance of ventilator-associated pneumonia, reinforcing the importance of epidemiological surveillance and preventive measures for patient safety.