Spanish-speaking patients face higher HAI risk, Kaiser study finds

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Patients whose first language is Spanish are more likely to acquire certain hospital-associated infections than those whose first language is English, according to a study by Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente.

Infection prevention personnel at Kaiser Permanente reviewed 6,813 publicly reported infections across 21 Kaiser acute care hospitals in Northern California from 2019 to 2023.

They found that adult Spanish-speaking patients experienced higher rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections. Pediatric Spanish-speaking patients were also more likely to experience SSIs. 

Interpreter use was associated with higher odds of these infections. Patients who relied on family or friends for interpretation faced a higher risk for all hospital-associated infections, according to a June 16 news release from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. 

“The use of family or friends for interpretation marked non-English speaking as a risk itself for infection during hospital stay,” according to the release. “The conclusion is that more data is needed on health inequities to understand the underlying influences that language and cultural background play in this increased risk to guide future prevention efforts.”

Findings were presented June 16 at the APIC’s annual conference. 

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