Surveillance of nosocomial infections by computer analysis of positive culture rates
Journal of Clinical MicrobiologyPublished 1 April 1985Open access
Ron B. Schifman, R. A. Palmer
Citations28
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.88
SNIP1.68
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
A surveillance method that identifies excessive rates of positive cultures based on patient location, culture site, and organism identification is described, demonstrating that computer analysis of positive culture rates is a sensitive and time-efficient method for detecting potentially preventable nosocomial infections.
Abstract
We describe a surveillance method that identifies excessive rates of positive cultures based on patient location, culture site, and organism identification. During a 6-month period, this surveillance method, coupled with epidemiological investigations, identified 19 small clusters of cross-infections and three small outbreaks of intravenous catheter-related bacteremias. These infections were associated with apparent breakdowns in proper technique. Concurrent, standard surveillance activities identified only three of these problems. These results demonstrate that computer analysis of positive culture rates is a sensitive and time-efficient method for detecting potentially preventable nosocomial infections.
Keywords
Immunology and MicrobiologyMedicineBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
New England Journal of MedicineFactors Predisposing to Bacteriuria during Indwelling Urethral Catheterization
581 Citations1974Richard A. Garibaldi, John P. Burke +2 more
Strict adherence to aseptic care of closed sterile drainage systems can be expected to reduce rates of hospital-acquired, catheter-associated bacteriuria.
The American Journal of MedicineExtra charges and prolongation of stay attributable to nosocomial infections: A prospective interhospital comparison
343 Citations1981Robert W. Haley, Dennis R. Schaberg +3 more
The economic consequences of nosocomial infection in three hospitals that differed in size, administrative characteristics and patients' economic status were influenced more by site of infection than by differences among hospitals, and their magnitude emphasizes the need for continued preventive efforts.
American Journal of EpidemiologyHOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS I. SURVEILLANCE IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
206 Citations1976Richard P. Wenzel, CHARLES A. OSTERMAN +2 more
A new system of surveillance is described for detecting hospital-aquired infections that was more accurate and offered advantages over a system in which surveillance depended primarily on the bacteriology laboratory.
The American Journal of MedicineNosocomial infection of the urinary tract
158 Citations1981Marvin Turck, Walter E. Stamm
Urinary tract infections appear to be responsible for 35 percent of all hospital-acquired infections, occurring in approximately two patients per 100 admissions, and the great majority of infections are associated with urinary tract instrumentation.
The Journal of Infectious DiseasesEpidemiology of Endemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Why Infection Control Efforts Have Failed
155 Citations1984B. Olson, Robert A. Weinstein +3 more
The data indicate that traditional control measures aimed at the prevention of exogenous acquisition of P. aeruginosa are unlikely to have an impact on the overall incidence of infection and that efforts to prevent infection in patients who are already colonized are necessary.
JAMASeverity of Underlying Disease as a Predictor of Nosocomial Infection
147 Citations1978Michael R. Britt
After an awareness program that promoted the use of established methods for prevention of nosocomial infections was established, there was a decline of overall incidence of endemic nosocomials from 9.2% to 4.8% within an eight-month period.
Annals of Internal MedicineControl of Colonization and Transmission of Pathogenic Bacteria in the Hospital
126 Citations1978Dennis G. Maki
A hospital is a milieu conducive to the development and spread of infection, and patients' own flora, microorganisms in the hospital environment or those carried by medical personnel, intrinsically cause infection.
American Journal of EpidemiologyTHE EMERGENCE OF INFECTION SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL PROGRAMS IN US HOSPITALS: AN ASSESSMENT, 1976
87 Citations1980Robert W. Haley, Richard H. Shachtman
Although the adoption of selected infection control policies and practices has varied widely, chronological data indicate that a major infection control movement has emerged since 1970.
Annals of Internal MedicineGuidelines for Infection Control in Intravenous Therapy
84 Citations1973Donald A. Goldmann, Dennis G. Maki +4 more
Infusion-associated septicemia is an appreciable hazard to the more than 8 million patients who receive intravenous therapy in U.S. hospitals each year and Rigorous infection control measures are needed.
Clinical Infectious DiseasesIdentification of Procedure-Related Nosocomial Infections in High-Risk Patients
75 Citations1981Richard P. Wenzel, CHARLES A. OSTERMAN +7 more
The highest priority for infection control resources should be assigned to surveillance of patients in ICUs, because ICU patients are at high risk of acquiring nosocomial infections.
JAMANosocomial bacteremia. Potential for prevention of procedure-related cases
62 Citations1977J. E. McGowan
PubMedPrevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection. An additional measure.
40 Citations1972Dennis G. Maki, Charles H. Hennekens +1 more
The American Journal of MedicineNosocomial infections—A 1980 view: Progress, priorities and prognosis
40 Citations1981Theodore C. Eickhoff
This review highlights the progress that has been made in the field of nosocomial infections in the past decade and the evolving roles of infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists represent important progress in meeting manpower needs.
American Journal of EpidemiologyA METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING PATIENTS ACCORDING TO THE NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DIAGNOSES AND SURGICAL PROCEDURES
27 Citations1980Thomas M. Hooton, Robert W. Haley +1 more
The authors developed a method for assessing one component of nosocomial infection risk, based on patients' diagnoses and surgical procedures, which found that NIRs increased according to the predicted ranking of risk categories, even when the analyses were stratified individually by age, sex, hospital service and exposure to urinary catheterization or continuous ventilatory support.
Infection ControlSurveillance for Nosocomial Infections: Can the Sources of Data Be Reduced?
26 Citations1980Peter Groß, Amy Beaugard +1 more
Although the NIs missed by lack of a positive culture report often were significant infections, these alternate methods of surveillance did not help to detect any clusters of infections that could be traced to a particular source among the staff or the environment.
The American Journal of MedicineTechniques and uses of nosocomial infection surveillance in U.S. hospitals, 1976–1977
23 Citations1981T.Grace Emori, Robert W. Haley +1 more
From personal interviews in a representative sample of hospitals, it was found that 97 per cent of them had some type of infection surveillance system; most involved continuous, hospital-wide surveillance, written definitions of infections, active case-finding methods and basic analytic techniques.
American Journal of Clinical PathologyComputerization of a Hospital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
20 Citations1978James H. Jorgensen, Paula Holmes +2 more
Annals of Internal MedicineStandards for Hospital Infection Control
18 Citations1978Theodore C. Eickhoff
Current requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals reflect a profound lack of acceptable data from which rational priorities in hospital infection control might be deduced.