Background: Patients with contact to healthcare-system in high-prevalence countries (HPC) and refugee patients in hospital settings (REF) have previously been identified to be at risk of carrying multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Comparative studies addressing the epidemiology of MDRO in patients transferred from hospitals abroad (ABROAD) and REF are lacking but are necessary to introduce refined infection control measures.
Methods: From December 2015 to June 2016, 117 REF, 84 ABROAD and 495 patients admitted to intensive care unit, with no refugee history or pre-treatment abroad (ICU), at University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany (UHF) were screened for MDRO on day of admittance. Data within these groups were compared and set in an epidemiological context.
Results: 52.1% (95% confidence interval = 42.7-61.5) of REF and 41.6% (31.0-52.9) of ABROAD, were positive for at least one MDRGN, respectively. In contrast, 7.9% (5.6-10.6) of ICU were positive for MDRGN. Thereof, 0.9% (0.0-4.7) of REF, 15.5% (8.5-25.0) of ABROAD and 0% (0.0-0.7) of ICU were positive for at least one MDRGN with carbapenem resistance (CR). In total, 19 MDRGN with CR were detected in ABROAD, with the most frequent species with CR being A. baumannii with 42.1% (20.3-66.5). Regarding MRSA, 10.3% (5.4-17.2) of REF, 5.9% (1.9-13.3) of ABROAD and a significantly lower proportion 1.4% (0.6-2.9) of ICU, respectively, were tested positive.
Conclusions: Both REF and ABROAD pose a relevant hospital hygiene risk. High prevalence of MDRGN with CR in ABROAD was observed. Concise screening and infection control guidelines are needed in patient cohorts with increased risk for MDRO carriage.
Keywords: Hospital hygiene; Infection control; Medical tourists; Multidrug-resistant organisms; Refugees.