Control charts for nosocomial infection surveillance

Abstract

We present a non-technical summary of the Shewhart, cumulative sum (CUSUM) and weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart methods. These are employed to analyse infection control and quality improvement surveillance data in a number of Australian hospitals. They are practical because they can turn data into useful information. In addition, because data are analysed in a timely manner, changes in infection rates can often be detected at an early stage when the underlying causes are more likely to be found.