[Hospital infections in general surgery wards]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Public Health Surveillance

Context:

• The National Association for Infectious Diseases (Polskie Towarzystwo Zakazeń Szpitalnych--PTZSz) established a hospital infections program in 1997.
• Approximately 100 Polish hospitals joined the surveillance system, utilizing nosocomial infection registration cards.
• Data from general surgery departments in 1998 were analyzed, involving 79 participating units.

Purpose:

• To analyze the incidence and characteristics of nosocomial infections in Polish general surgery departments.
• To identify the most common types and etiological agents of hospital-acquired infections.
• To assess the impact of nosocomial infections on hospitalization duration.

Summary:

• Analysis of 48,964 registration cards revealed a 2.11% incidence of nosocomial infections in general surgery departments.
• Surgical site infections were the most prevalent (37.1%), followed by skin/soft tissue (20.1%) and respiratory tract infections (17.6%).
• Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequent causative pathogens. Hospitalization was extended threefold in infected patients.

Impact:

• Highlights the significant burden of hospital-acquired infections in surgical settings.
• Provides crucial data for targeted infection control strategies in Poland.
• Underscores the need for continued surveillance and pathogen identification to reduce healthcare-associated infections.