NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS remain one of the most severe public health issues, infecting millions of patients worldwide each year.  The global prevalence of NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS varies between 3.0% and 20.7%, with an incidence rate ranging from 5% to 10%. In this short article, we have tried to present a different perspective on the future of NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS from the author's viewpoint. According to our assessment, due to megatrends such as global exposure, population aging, and augmenting drug resistance, NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS are expected to become more severe in the future. On the other hand, advancements in health technologies such as e-health, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and less invasive interventions form a new generation of hospitals capable of preventing and controlling NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS. Presenting novel approaches to NOSOCOMIAL infection management will transform medicine. Therefore, it seems that in the following years, NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS will follow a different trend.

Background: Healthcare-associated INFECTIONS (HAIs) lead to serious problems such as antibiotic resistance and a high mortality rate. This study assessed the incidence of NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS (NIs), causative agents and their antimicrobial resistance patterns, and mortality rate in Isfahan province, Iran, by the national surveillance system. Methods: In a retrospective study, during 2017–2021, Iranian NOSOCOMIAL Infection Surveillance (INIS) software was used to extract data for inpatients with NIs in Isfahan province, Iran. The demographic and microbiologic findings were collected and analyzed. Results: From 2, 660, 073 hospitalized patients in 50 hospitals, the prevalence of NIs was 1. 46%. About 54. 5% of patients were male, and more than 62% were in the age group over 45 years. The total incidence was 24. 06%, 22. 22%, 17. 11%, 13. 25%, and 11. 32% for urinary tract infection (UTI), ventilator-associated events (VAE), skin and soft tissue infection (SSI), pneumonia (PNEU), and blood stream infection (BSI), respectively. During the study period, 15. 07% of deaths were recorded by NIs. The most common isolated bacteria from NIs were Acinetobacter spp. (12. 2%). Also, Acinetobacter spp. was the dominant isolated bacteria in VAE (17. 8%) and PNEU (4. 1%). The common isolated bacteria in UTI, BSI, and SSI were E. coli (27. 2%), S. epidermidis (22. 1%), and Klebsiella spp (5. 8%), respectively. Acinetobacter spp was the most resistant bacteria isolated. Conclusion: Following the low incidence rate of NIs in Iran compared to other parts of the world, there is a need for more accurate diagnosis techniques and better reporting methods. The available data from INIS need to be used correctly to make smarter decisions, more effective interventions, and appropriate antibiotic stewardship programs for antimicrobial resistance control.

In 1988, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published two articles on NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS (NIs) and certain types of NIs’ criteria for surveillance purposes. NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS refer to any systemic or localized conditions that result from the reaction by an infectious agent or toxin.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of NOSOCOMIAL fungal INFECTIONS in pediatric patients and evaluate the etiological agents, risk factors, and sites of INFECTIONS. Materials and Methods: Clinical samples were cultured to assess fungal colonization. When fungal NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS were suspected according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria, clinical samples were evaluated using direct microscopic, culture, and molecular methods. Susceptibility patterns of the isolates were evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Results: From the 1450 patients, 190 cases (5.5%) were evaluated for NOSOCOMIAL fungal INFECTIONS. Candida colonization was observed in 35 (18.4%) patients. The rate of NOSOCOMIAL fungal INFECTIONS in pediatrics was 2.69% (12 cases with proven and 27 cases with probable INFECTIONS, 39/1450). Bloodstream and lungs were the frequent infected sites of patients’ body. Aspergillus species (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus), Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata) and Mucorales were the etiologic agents of INFECTIONS. Caspofungin and luliconazole were effective antifungal agents for isolated fungi. The rate of mortality in infected patients suffering from proven and probable INFECTIONS was 15.4% (6/39 cases). Conclusion: Due to the high mortality rates of fungal INFECTIONS in pediatrics, it is essential to identify modifiable risk factors, and implement control measures along with early detection techniques in pediatric populations.