OBJECTIVE To analyze the status and characteristics of hospital-associated infection in a three-A hospital from 2023 to 2024, and to identify directions for intervention in hospital-associated infection.

METHODS The hospital-associated infection data of a three-A hospital from 2023 to 2024 were analyzed, including the overall trend of hospital-associated infection, the top three departments with the highest hospital-associated infection rates, the distribution of pathogens, infection sites and patient ages.

RESULTS From 2023 to 2024, a total of 145 915 patients were monitored, with 1 673 cases of hospital-associated infection, resulting in a hospital-associated infection rate of 1.15%. The hospital-associated infection rate in 2024 was 1.06% (831/78 284), which was lower than that in 2023 (P=0.001). The top three departments with the highest hospital-associated infection rates were the intensive care unit, the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) and the cadre ward. Among the detected pathogens, gram-negative bacteria were predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii (26.21%), gram-positive bacteria were predominantly Staphylococcus aureus (4.86%) and fungi were predominantly Candida glabrata (13.89%). There were statistically significant differences in the proportions of Proteus vulgaris, Serratia liquefaciens, Burkholderia cepacia and gram-positive bacteria between the two years (P < 0.05). The main hospital-associated infection sites were the respiratory tract, urinary tract and surgical site. The hospital-associated infection rate was high among elderly patients, particularly in the cadre ward.

CONCLUSIONS The departments with high incidence of hospital-associated infection are the intensive care unit, EICU and cadre ward. The main pathogen is A. baumannii, with the respiratory tract being the primary site of infection. It is necessary to strengthen prevention and control measures for high-risk departments, key pathogens and common infection sites to effectively reduce the incidence of hospital-associated infection.