Effect of Infection Prevention and Control Measures on the Length of Hospital Stay of Patients at Lebanese Hospitals

Background: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures are related to medical practices that prevent or minimize spreading of infectious diseases.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of IPC measures on the length of hospital stay (LOS) of patients in infectious diseases service at Lebanese hospitals. Methods:This was a prospective cohort study in two Lebanese hospitals between January 2017 and July 2017.Hospital 1 was a governmental university hospital located in Beirut with a total number of 544 beds, with Composite Index of Activities for the Control of Nosocomial Infections -2 (CIACNI-2) and Composite Indicator of Control of Multi-Resistant Bacteria (CIC-MRB) scores of 76/100 and 69/100, respectively.Hospital 2 was a non-university private hospital located in Mount Lebanon with a total number of 110 beds, CIACNI-2 and CIC-MRB scores of 95/100 and 70/100, respectively.Adult patients of both genders aged over 18 years, admitted to the intensive care, internal medicine or surgical wards, with positive bacteria cultures and treated with antibiotics were eligible to be enrolled in the study.The primary outcome was to assess the effect of IPC measures of each hospital on the total LOS.Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to identify the statistical associations.Results: A total of 369 patients were enrolled in the study.Private hospital had higher scores of IPC measures.Patients at the hospital with lower IPC measures had an additional LOS of 2 ± 2.73 days when compared to the hospital with higher IPC measures (p = 0.106).Multi linear regression showed that the hospital with higher IPC measures was associated with significant shorter LOS (p < 0.001). Conclusion:Applying high standards of IPC measures can decrease the total length of hospital stay in Lebanese hospitals.