Summary
A totally laboratory-based system for surveillance of hospital-associated infections is not sensitive enough, but may be a base for surveillance of urinary tract infections. The SENIC study has convincingly demonstrated that for the four most important hospital-associated infections in the U.S., active ongoing intense surveillance based on daily patient chart and/or Kardex reviews in itself reduces the infection rate. Studies in other countries indicate that for postoperative wound infections this holds true also outside the U.S. For other types of nosocomial infections, similar studies outside the U.S. are urgently needed. The SENIC study underlines the importance of infection control nurses, but also of well-trained hospital epidemiologists.
Zusammenfassung
Die Überwachung von Krankenhaus-assoziierten Infektionen auf Laborbasis allein ist nicht sensitiv genug; die Überwachung von Harnwegsinfektionen kann allerdings auf dieser Basis erfolgen. Die SENIC-Studie hat überzeugend belegt, daß eine ständige intensive Überwachung auf der Basis täglicher Durchsicht der Patientenunterlagen und/oder Kardex-Kontrolle bereits die Rate der vier wichtigsten Krankenhausinfektionen in den USA vermindern konnte. Studien in anderen Ländern zeigten, daß dies außerhalb der USA auch für postoperative Wundinfektionen zutrifft. Ähnliche Studien sind außerhalb der USA auch für andere nosokomiale Infektionen dringend erforderlich. Die SENIC-Studie bestätigt die Bedeutung der Infektionskontrollschwestern, aber auch gut ausgebildeter Krankenhaus-Epidemiologen.
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3rd International Symposium on Nosocomial Infection Control presented 23–25 September 1987 at the University of Ulm.
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Nyström, B. Surveillance of hospital-associated infections. Infection 17, 43–45 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01643504
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01643504