[Nosocomial infections in vascular surgery: 1-year surveillance]

Among the hospital related complications the nosocomial infections are a major source of problems, especially in the Intensive Care and in the Surgery Units. It has been clearly demonstrated that infection control programs, in Surgery Units, have a large benefit in the reduction of surgical site infections (SSIs) rates. The surveillance method, sponsored by the Centers for Diseases Control of Atlanta, is the most consolidated system and it is active since '70 years. We used this method in the Vascular Surgery Unit of Perugia Hospital. During a 12-month period, 668 consecutive patients were enrolled and followed, after surgery, for 30 days (without implantable devices) or 1 year (with prosthesis). A total of 14 (2.1%) patients had SSIs: 4 superficial, 4 deep, 6 organ-space. We isolated 13 pathogens: 8 gram-positive, 4 gram-negative, and one Candida albicians. The most prevalent pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-susceptible. This first positive experience will be used for further more generalized work involving the principal surgical Unit of the Umbria Region.