Introduction and objective:
Hospital-acquired infections remain a significant challenge in the Polish healthcare system, affecting patient health, treatment duration, and hospitalization costs. In Poland, they affect 5–10% of hospitalized patients, generating annual costs around 800 million PLN. The aim of this study is to analyze trends in hospital-acquired infections in Poland during 2016–2023, considering the number of hospitalizations, infection-related deaths, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods:
The study used data from the BASIW Health Needs Map, dividing the analyzed period into prepandemic (2016–2019) and during/post-pandemic (2020–2023). The number of analyzed patients, hospital-acquired infections, and death rates related to infections were analyzed using correlation analysis

Results:
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, strong negative correlations were observed between the number of patients, and infections (r = -0.909) and deaths (r = -0.921) indicating that a higher number of patients was associated with fewer infections and deaths. During the pandemic, this trend shifted – correlations between infections and hospitalizations, as well as patients became positive (r = 0.795 and r = 0.844). The correlation between deaths and hospitalizations or patients weakened.

Conclusions:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the dynamics of hospital-acquired infections and their relationship with hospitalization rates. The findings highlight the need for effective surveillance of infections, the role of hospital-acquired infection control teams, and the implementation of hygiene standards. Limitations of the study include inconsistent reporting, use of empirical antibiotic therapy, and lack of demographic data on patients. The results may serve as a basis for improving the quality of hospital care in Poland.