Solmaz, İhsanKavak, ŞeyhmusArac, SongulAkelma, HakanBaşgöz, Bahadir BilginKoyun, SedrettinKaya, Şafak2025-09-152025-09-1520241972-26802036-6590https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.19548https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12514/9299Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and may cause devastating consequences. However, the prevalence of HAI and its effects on in-hospital mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients is ambiguous. We determined the prevalence of HAI and the rate of mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients and compared it with pre-pandemic ICU patients. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted with adult ICU patients admitted to Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital (Diyarbakir,Turkey) in April-November 2019 (defined as the pre-pandemic period) and in April-November 2020 (defined as the pandemic period). All patients in the pandemic period had COVID-19, while none in the pre-pandemic period did. Patients diagnosed with HAIs during the in-hospital follow-up period were recorded. Results: Of 4596 enrollees, 3386 (73.7%) were pandemic-period patients and 1210 (26.3%) were pre-pandemic-period patients. HAI prevalence was significantly higher at 5.9% (n = 71) in the pandemic-period patients and 2.7% (n = 91) in the pre-pandemic-period patients (p < 0.001). Comorbidities including hypertension (63.4% vs 14.2%, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (39.4% vs 8.8%, p < 0.001), and coronary artery disease (30.9% vs 10.9%, p = 0.002) were significantly more frequent in pandemic-period HAI-positive patients. The most common HAI was catheter-related bloodstream infection in both groups, with similar frequency (p = 0.652). In-hospital mortality rate was 85.9% versus 65.9% in pandemic- versus pre-pandemic-period HAI-positive patients (p < 0,05). Conclusions: The prevalence of HAI and the in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher among pandemic-period patients. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.en10.3855/jidc.19548info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCOVID-19Healthcare-Associated InfectionsIntensive Care UnitsC Reactive ProteinLactate DehydrogenaseLactate Dehydrogenase AProcalcitoninSPSS 24C Reactive ProteinLactate DehydrogenaseProcalcitoninAcinetobacter baumanniiAdultAgedArticleBloodstream InfectionChronic Kidney FailureChronic Obstructive Lung DiseaseCoronary Artery DiseaseCoronavirus Disease 2019Critically Ill PatientDiabetes MellitusEscherichia coliFemaleHealthcare Associated InfectionHospitalizationHumanHypertensionIntensive Care UnitKlebsiella pneumoniaeLength of StayMajor Clinical StudyMaleMiddle AgedMorganella morganiiMortalityPandemicPolymerase Chain ReactionPrevalenceRetrospective StudyStaphylococcus aureusUrinalysisUrinary Tract InfectionVentilator Associated PneumoniaComorbidityComplicationCritical IllnessCross InfectionEpidemiologyHospital MortalitySevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2Turkey (Bird)AdultAgedComorbidityCOVID-19Critical IllnessCross InfectionFemaleHospital MortalityHumansIntensive Care UnitsMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2TurkeyArticle2-s2.0-85208602684