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Importance of the Surveillance Method: National Prevalence Studies on Nosocomial Infections and the Limits of Comparison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Petra Gastmeier ,
Günter Kampf ,
Nicoletta Wischnewski ,
Martin Schumacher ,
Franz Daschner  and
Henning Rüden
Petra Gastmeier*
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany
Günter Kampf
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany
Nicoletta Wischnewski
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany
Martin Schumacher
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany
Franz Daschner
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany
Henning Rüden
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany
*
Institut für Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, D 13, 353 Berlin, Germany; e-mail, pgastmei@charite.de.
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Abstract

Objective:

To demonstrate the limits of comparison of national prevalence rates of nosocomial infections.

Design and Setting:

Critical analysis of prevalence rates and methods of the Nosocomial Infections in Germany (NIDEP) study and other prevalence surveys with particular attention to the selection of patients, the qualification and training of the investigators, and the methods of identifying nosocomial infections.

Results:

The lowest prevalence rate was found in Germany (3.5 %), the highest in Belgium (9.3 %). These differences may not be accurate, because variations in methods allow for differing explanations.

Conclusions:

Because of numerous methodological factors, comparison of infection rates between countries should be avoided. In contrast to other prevalence studies, the methodology of the German-NIDEP study permits registration of only certain infections, which is the main reason for the low rate.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 19 , Issue 9 , September 1998 , pp. 661 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998

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