Background This audit aimed to identify patients who developed a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) after being deemed medically optimised for discharge and to then recognise the common patterns of HCAIs alongside the reasons for delays in discharges. Methodology This audit used a retrospective observational design. The audit was conducted in a general medical ward in an NHS England tertiary medical centre between December 2023 and January 2024. The study had a sample size of 93 patients who had been deemed medically optimised for discharge (MOFD) in a general medical ward but had not yet been discharged. The main outcome measures of the audit were the type and period prevalence of HCAI and the reasons for delay in discharge. Results In total, 93 patients were determined to be MOFD, with 11 (12%) suffering HCAI. The study identified COVID-19 as the most prevalent HCAI, accounting for four (36.4%) cases, followed by three (27.3%) cases of urinary catheter-related infections, two (18.2%) cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia not related to COVID-19, and two (18.2%) cases of other infections. The study also identified that delays in discharge for patients were mainly due to waits for social care. Overall, 64% (seven patients) of patients had a delay in discharge because of delays in social care, followed by 36% (four patients) due to ongoing therapy needs. Conclusions This audit links delays in social care to adverse health outcomes in hospitals. Immediate measures are needed to strengthen social care provisions within hospitals to improve health care outcomes in an increasingly aging population.
Barrett et al. (Wed,) studied this question.