Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a persistent threat to patient

safety in acute care settings worldwide, and healthcare facilities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia are no

exception. The city's unique demographic pressures, including year-round patient influx and

seasonal peaks during Hajj and Umrah, place extraordinary demands on hospital infection

control systems. Despite global progress in infection prevention and control (IPC), evidence

regarding the effectiveness of structured IPC programmes at the departmental level within Saudi

tertiary hospitals remains insufficiently characterised.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the role of the infection control system in reducing

HAI rates across five medical departments of two tertiary-level hospitals in Makkah, to assess

healthcare worker compliance with IPC standards, and to identify risk factors that significantly

predict HAI occurrence.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional observational design was employed. A total of 400

patient records and corresponding staff compliance observations were collected from January

to June 2024. Departments included the Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, Orthopedic Ward,

Oncology Ward, and General Medicine Ward. Data encompassed HAI occurrence, compliance

with hand hygiene, PPE use, sterile technique, environmental disinfection, isolation protocols,

and waste management. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify independent predictors

of HAI.

Results: The overall HAI rate was 15.0% (n = 60). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections

(CAUTI) accounted for the largest proportion (30.0%), followed by ventilator-associated

189Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology 23(2s)/2026

pneumonia (VAP) at 23.3%. Full compliance with hand hygiene stood at 61.5%, and PPE

utilisation compliance was 57.2%. Sterile technique showed the highest compliance rate at

72.0%. Logistic regression identified inadequate IPC training (OR = 3.42, p < 0.001),

insufficient hand hygiene compliance (OR = 2.87, p < 0.001), and absence of a dedicated IPC

committee (OR = 2.15, p = 0.009) as significant independent predictors.

Conclusion: Structured and consistently enforced IPC systems are central to reducing HAI

burden in Makkah's healthcare facilities. Strengthening IPC training programmes, formalising

compliance monitoring, and establishing dedicated infection control committees are essential

policy actions. These findings inform both local healthcare management and broader regional

strategies for HAI prevention.

Keywords: Healthcare-associated infections; infection prevention and control; hospital

epidemiology; hand hygiene compliance; Makkah; Saudi Arabia; ICU; patient safety.