A Comparison of Methods for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections

Data available for the monitoring of nosocomial infections, including mandatory state reports of communicable diseases, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , National Nosocomial Infections Study reports, and ad hoc epidemiologic investigations are discussed in this article, and their usefulness, validity, limitations, and representativeness are compared. Problems with interpretation of hospital infection “rates” are described, and solutions are proposed.

[1]  C. Hargiss,et al.  The epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in a newborn nursery from 1970 through 1976. , 1978, Pediatrics.

[2]  R. Wenzel,et al.  Providencia stuartii, a hospital pathogen: potential factors for its emergence and transmission. , 1976, American journal of epidemiology.

[3]  E. Larson,et al.  Decreased incidences of resistance to antimicrobial agents among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella-enterobacter. Observations in a university hospital over a 10-year period. , 2020, Annals of internal medicine.

[4]  M. Weinstein,et al.  Outbreak of a multiply resistant Acinetobacter in a surgical intensive care unit: epidemiology and control. , 1978, Heart & lung : the journal of critical care.

[5]  P. W. Smith,et al.  Room humidifiers as the source of Acinetobacter infections. , 1977, JAMA.

[6]  W. Schaffner,et al.  An outbreak of nosocomial infection due to multiply resistant Serratia marcescens: evidence of interhospital spread. , 1976, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[7]  G. Matanoski,et al.  The current mortality rates of radiologists and other physician specialists: specific causes of death. , 1975, American journal of epidemiology.

[8]  B. Macmahon,et al.  Epidemiology: Principles and Methods , 1970 .

[9]  A. Gittelsohn,et al.  Studies on the reliability of vital and health records: I. Comparison of cause of death and hospital record diagnoses. , 1979, American journal of public health.

[10]  S. M. Martin,et al.  The role of nationwide nosocomial infection surveillance in detecting epidemic bacteremia due to contaminated intravenous fluids. , 1978, American journal of epidemiology.

[11]  J. Phair,et al.  Surveillance of Gentamicin-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli in a General Hospital , 1978, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

[12]  R. Connelly,et al.  Third national cancer survey: incidence data. , 1975, National Cancer Institute monograph.