The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hand Flora and Nasal Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage of the Staff Working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Introduction and Objective: Nosocomial infections are an important source of morbidity and mortality in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in developing countries. Many studies have shown that there is a decrease in infection rates in parallel with the increase in participation in hand hygiene practices. In our study, we wanted to determine the hand flora of the health personnel working in the NICU by taking their hand cultures and we also wanted to examine their existing hygiene habits change for the better or for the worse after the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, our object was to investigate the effect of attitude changes in hand hygiene on nosocomial infections based on the Infection Control Committee data. Material and Method: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study between 01.03.2020 and 01.02.2021 at Turkish Republic Ministry of Health Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital NICU. To obtain data for the study, in addition to prospective data, retrospective data were also used. The pre-pandemic period (PPP) was taken as 01.03.2019-29.02.2020, and the pandemic period (PP) as 01.03.2020- 28.02.2021. PPP and PP were analyzed within three-month subgroups. The hand flora and nasal Staphylococcus Aureus carriage study included a total of 90 people, including 15 doctors, 60 nurses and 15 cleaning staff; and the survey study included a total of 93 people, including 18 doctors, 60 nurses and 15 cleaning staff both between the ages of 20-60 working in the NICU. Results: In our study, as a result of the comparison of the number of patients, the number of inpatient days and the number of infections according to the birth weight of the newborns, a statistically significant positive difference was found between PPP and PP in terms of the number of patients and the number of inpatient days with different birth weights. As a result of the comparison of the infection rates and density rates in PPP and PP according to the birth weight of the newborns, a statistically significant positive difference was found in terms of both the infection rate and the density rate in newborns with a birth weight between 1501 and 2500. A statistically significant positive difference was found between PP and PPP in terms of gram- 103 negative bacteria in all employees, regardless of the occupational groups of the staff working in the NICU. It was observed that the hand washing habits of the healthcare professionals participating in the survey showed statistically significant positive changes during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. Conclusion: In our study, it was understood that the Covid-19 pandemic had a positive effect on the nosocomial infections and on the hygiene habits and hand flora of the healthcare personnel working in the NICU. Keywords: Survey, Covid-19, hand hygiene, nosocomial infections, neonatal intensive care unit.