[Quality of data on computerized registration of postoperative wound infections]

At the Department of General Surgery, Hillerød Hospital, the quality of data from a continuous registration of post-operative wound infection was evaluated. Data registered over a six-month period were compared with data available in caserecords and data from a questionnaire sent to the patients. During the period 1.2-31.7.1990 924 operations were registered in 864 patients. Eight hundred and ninety-five patient records could be traced and 770 questionnaires were sent. The remaining 125 were dead or had unknown addresses. Six hundred eighty-seven questionnaires were returned. The data-registered overall infection rate was 3.0%. The actual infection rate was 8.9%. Fifty-eight percent of the infections noted in the records were registered. Approximately 40% of the infections were diagnosed and treated in general practice only. It is concluded that in order to compare infection rates between departments, it is necessary to ensure that equal definitions and equal quality of the data are used. Strict routines in the department and a close contact to the general practitioners are essential to achieve a satisfactory quality of data.