15 In fact, nearly 42% of COVID-19 infections in HCWs are related to the inappropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and gloves. A previous study reported that adherence to hand hygiene recommendations among HCWs remains suboptimal, yet the compliance rate is approximately 30%. 14 For example, after evaluating or caring for one patient, HCWs occasionally touch another patient without properly washing their hands. One of the primary causes of HAIs is the contact and transmission of contaminated hand and medical equipment by healthcare workers (HCWs) who do not properly comply with hospital hygiene practices. 11 Therefore, prevention and management of HAIs in China in the presence of competing interests remain an important clinical and public health topic. 10 The direct economic burden of hospital infections in China ranges from $1.5 billion to $2.3 billion annually. 8 9 Wang and colleagues reported that the weighted prevalence of HAIs varies between 1.73% and 5.45% in Chinese municipalities and provinces. 7 The risk of acquiring an HAI in low-income countries is 2–20 times higher than that in high-income countries.
6 Healthcare challenges emerging from HAIs are currently among the most significant public global health issues.
5 It has been estimated that nearly 10% of inpatients suffer the consequences of HAIs. 2–4 According to the WHO, at any moment, 1.4 million patients bear the consequences of HAIs globally. 1 HAIs represent significant challenges to the effective delivery of healthcare services and can result in prolonged hospital stays, microbial resistance, exacerbation of existing conditions, worsening of patients’ economic burdens, stretching available healthcare resources and even deaths. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) refer to the infections acquired in hospitals but are neither present nor incubating at the time of a patient’s admission.
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