[Nosocomial infection surveillance: experience at a cardiology hospital in Mexico]

To describe the results of the Nosocomial Infection surveillance program at the Cardiology Hospital in Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI of the Mexican Social Security Institute.

To inform of the epidemiologic follow-up results from January 2000 to July 2003. Global frequency, infection rates by infection site, hospital services, and frequency of most common microorganisms were estimated.

During this period, global incidence showed that in every 100 discharges, there were 4.3 infections (4.3/100). Frequency of infection was slightly higher in the surgical intensive care unit. Average infection rate in lower respiratory tract infections was 27/1,000; in surgical-site infections: 8/1,000 (mediastinitis 0.8/1,000); it was found that in urinary tract infection, rate was 6.6/1,000. Most commonly isolated microorganisms were: coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (25%), Enterobacter sp. (17%), Candida albicans (13%), S. aureus (9%), P. aeruginosa (9%) and K. pneumoniae (6%).

This study describes the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in a Cardiology Hospital. The information is obtained through epidemiologic follow-up programs. This information is very important to develop specific strategies for control of infections.