Epidemiological Trends of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Chile: A National Descriptive Study (2015–2022)

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections continue to represent a significant challenge for healthcare systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Evaluating national trends is essential to support infection prevention and control strategies, especially during periods of increased healthcare demand such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective ecological analysis using aggregated national surveillance data from medium- and high-complexity public hospitals in Chile between 2015 and 2022. Temporal trends in major HAIs, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), and surgical site infections (SSI), were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 43,478 HAIs were reported. Gram-negative microorganisms predominated overall, particularly in VAP and CAUTI, while Gram-positive organisms predominated in CLABSI and SSI. Although the total number of infections increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportional distribution of major etiological groups remained relatively stable over time. Despite increased infection burden during the pandemic period, national surveillance data suggest stability in the overall distribution of major etiological groups. These findings highlight the importance of sustained surveillance systems to monitor infection trends and support infection control strategies in developing countries.