[Computer-assisted prospective wound infection monitoring. 1: Ideas and principles]

The prospective recording of nosocomial infections can be regarded as a quality control measure whereby exact data collection and analysis will improve recognition of the individual aspects of hygiene deficiency in the hospital and thus reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections. Wound infections will be recorded on the basis of the CDC definitions for nosocomial infections (1988) and according to three categories of cleanliness for all operations: aseptic, contaminated, infected. A computer program is recommended for data collection and exact analysis--if possible, combined with an internal hospital communication system.