The burden of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) has traditionally been measured using clinical and economic outcomes. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 patients or their caregivers affected by HCAI caused by multidrug-resistant organisms to better understand the human impact of HCAI. Most patients had misconceptions about HCAI and antimicrobial resistance, leading to strong negative feelings towards HCAIs despite positive views of their healthcare providers. Communication issues across power imbalances need to be addressed to help deal with trauma of HCAIs. A holistic approach to HCAIs incorporating patient perspectives will likely help guide policymakers developing solutions to improve patient outcomes.

传统上，医疗保健相关感染（HCAI）的负担是使用临床和经济结果来衡量的。我们对18例受多重耐药菌引起的HCAI影响的患者或其护理人员进行了半结构式访谈，以更好地了解HCAI对人类的影响。大多数患者对HCAI和抗菌素耐药性存在误解，尽管他们的医护人员对此持积极态度，但仍对HCAI产生强烈的消极感觉。需要解决跨电源不平衡的沟通问题，以帮助应对HCAI带来的创伤。结合患者观点的HCAI整体方法可能会帮助指导决策者制定解决方案以改善患者预后。