Computerized system analyzes epidemiological data

The computer is a valuable tool in helping to analyze epidemiological data that are collected through the infection surveillance system. The computerized system described has many significant advantages over the manual system of infection surveillance: quick assimilation, computation, and dissemination of the nosocomial infection summary report (within seven working days of the month's end); identification of infection problems and problem areas; and ability to retrieve data necessary for a complete establishment of a hypothesis regarding cause and effect implicated by an epidemiological investigation. Above all, timely and accurate infection data must be obtained in order for the reports to be beneficial in the decision-making process used by the infection control committee. Manual systems of month-to-month correlation of infection data are difficult and extremely time consuming for the surveillance person. Often the infection control committee cannot act intelligently and quickly because it is not knowledgeable of current trends occurring within the hospital. The computer has a number of limitations, and any computerized surveillance system should be approached with caution, especially during the developmental stages. The computer uses input data, follows instructions, and thus formulates output. If the computer is given either inadequate input data or inaccurately programmed instructions, the output will be erroneous. Therefore, a close working relationship should be established between the epidemiologist and the hospital's data processing department. The goals of the system must be clearly defined and understood by both areas. Once the system is established, the output is only as good as the data supplied by the epidemiologist. If this system is properly utilized, valuable information can be obtained that would have been difficult to obtain using a manual surveillance method.