An evaluation of the efficacy of a hospital infection control program

To establish the credibility of the hospital infection control program at a major southeastern medical university hospital, the incidence rates of nosocomial infections were analyzed statistically following the implementation of an extensive infection control program. Continuous hospital-wide surveillance included documentation of all detected nosocomial infections by both site and service. Chi-square analysis of the incidence of infection during the years 1977 to 1979 revealed significant decreases in several distinct areas. The overall incidence rate of infection steadily declined from 100.8/1000 admissions in 1977 to 59.9/1000 in 1979. Decreases in the incidence of urinary tract, respiratory tract, and surgical wound infections were primarily involved. Analysis of incidence rates by service revealed that general surgery was responsible for much of the observed decrease. In contrast, none of the intensive care units exhibited a significant decline in morbidity rates over the 3-year period. It is concluded that involvement of infection control personnel at all levels of patient care as a part of a sophisticated hospital infection control program can result in a significant reduction in the incidence of nosocomial infections.