Hospital acquired infections in a Singapore Hospital: 1985-1992

A prospective survey of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) was conducted from 1985 to 1992. The survey used laboratory results to estimate incidence and alert infection control staff to a need for further action. The results were analysed with regard to the site, speciality and type of organism. The distribution by speciality of patients who had methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections was compared with the distribution of all patients with HAI. Although the surveillance was only partial, the data collected from year to year over the period of study seemed constant. The distribution of infection by type, location and bacterial cause was similar to results from other parts of the world. Notable differences were the high incidence of Acinetobacter sp., and the pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility to commonly used agents. Over half the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin resistant.