Impact of COVID-19 on nurse staffing levels and healthcare-associated infections in medical institutions: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the healthcare environment and raised concerns about the impact on nurse staffing and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), but evidence on this impact is lacking. This study evaluated changes in nurse staffing levels in South Korea and their impact on healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection (HA COVID-19). A total of 67,154 cases were included, and survival analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to assess the association between nurse staffing and HA COVID-19. Among patients admitted to intensive care units and general wards, 11.7% and 15.1%, respectively, contracted COVID-19 in the hospital after admission. Survival analysis showed that HA COVID-19 increased as the nurse-to-patient ratio increased in general wards. Additionally, com

SUBMITTER: Han KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006407 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature