Hospital-acquired infections: are prevention strategies matching incidence rates?

Joyce B. Suchitra; Nanjaiah Lakshmidevi

doi:10.1071/HI09001

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Hospital-acquired infections: are prevention strategies matching incidence rates?

Joyce B. Suchitra ^A ^C and Nanjaiah Lakshmidevi ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Freedom Foundation, Bangalore 560 043, India.

^B DOS Microbiology, Mysore University, Mysore 570 009, India.

^C Corresponding author. Email: suchitra_preetham@yahoo.com

Healthcare Infection 14(1) 21-25 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI09001
Published: 12 March 2009

Abstract

The threat of hospital-acquired infections, although known, continues to rise. Are hospitals setting guidelines in order to prevent hospital infections? If so, are the set guidelines effective? A study conducted across three hospitals showed a significant drop in the rates of surgical site infections (SSI) and hospital-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) by increasing the awareness of hospital-acquired infections among healthcare workers. An education program for the healthcare workers in the three different hospitals was included in the study. A prospective surveillance of surgical site wound infection and hospital-acquired UTI in patients undergoing surgery in these hospitals from January 2004 to March 2005 was conducted. This showed a significant reduction rate of 8.1% for SSI (P < 0.001) and 3.9% for hospital-acquired UTI (P < 0.001). A reduction of drug-resistant organisms was also found. The linking of prevention efforts and monitored infection rates are thus necessitated.

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