HIDDEN HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTION BURDEN IN UROLOGY DEPARTMENTS AND THE RATIONALE FOR AN AI-SUPPORTED INTEGRATED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MONITORING MODEL

Abstract

Urology departments are high-risk settings for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to invasive procedures, catheterization, and intensive antibiotic use. However, official reports of the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health (CSEWPH) in Olmazor District registered zero HAIs in urology units during 2023–2024, suggesting possible underdetection. This study analyzed microbiological, environmental, and clinical indicators to assess the hidden infection burden. Laboratory data demonstrated persistently high biomaterial positivity (57.0–58.6%), accompanied by a significant shift toward nosocomial pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida spp. Environmental monitoring revealed a sharp increase in surface contamination in 2025, including aseptic zones, indicating a critical epidemiological signal. Prolonged antibiotic use was common, potentially exceeding prophylactic recommendations. These findings support the presence of a hidden HAI burden and justify the implementation of an integrated AI-supported, signal-based epidemiological monitoring system to enhance early detection and targeted infection prevention.