A national prevalence study on nosocomial infections 1988

A National survey of N.I. in Thailand was done in April 1988. Twenty-three hospitals throughout the country were enrolled. Of the 6,805 patients studied, 52 per cent were males and 48 per cent were females. The prevalence rate of nosocomial infections was 11.7 per cent. The highest rate was found in the second biggest (regional) hospitals (18.8%). There were minor variations in the rates of infection in each age group. The infection rate was highest in intensive care units (35.1%) followed by orthopaedic (20.4%) and paediatric (15.7%) departments respectively. Urinary infections were the commonest (25.8%). Surgical wound infections ranked second (19.6%). Skin infections were as high as 11.8 per cent. P. aeruginosa were the commonest bacterial isolates (22%) followed by E. coli (18.1%) and Klebsiella species (14.0%). Antimicrobials were prescribed in 52 per cent of patients, and, in a large number, for prophylactic purposes. It is concluded that N.I. are the main health problems affecting more than 200,000 patients annually in Thailand. Urgent studies and interventions are clearly needed.