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Nosocomial Infections in a Rural Regional Hospital in a Developing Country: Infection Rates by Site, Service, Cost, and Infection Control Practices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Fitzroy A. Orrett ,
Phyllis J. Brooks  and
Elizabeth G. Richardson
Fitzroy A. Orrett*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Services, the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, the University of the West Indies, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
Phyllis J. Brooks
Affiliation:
St Augustine and Infection Control Department, San Fernando General Hospital, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
Elizabeth G. Richardson
Affiliation:
St Augustine and Infection Control Department, San Fernando General Hospital, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
*
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies
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Abstract

Objective:

To assess the prevalence of nosocomial infections at a rural government hospital from 1992 to 1995.

Design:

Retrospective review of data from 1992 to 1995 regarding rates of nosocomial infections, cost to government, and infection control practices.

Setting:

653-bed rural hospital providing primary and tertiary care.

Patients:

Patients admitted to the hospital between 1992 and 1995 who were found with hospital-acquired infections during their stay.

Interventions:

None.

Results:

Over the 4-year period, 7,158 nosocomial infections were identified from 72,532 patients (10.0/100 admissions). High nosocomial infection rates were found on the intensive-care unit (67/100 admissions), urology (30/100 admissions), neurosurgery (29.5/100 admissions), and newborn nursery (28.4/100 admissions). Urinary tract infections (4.1/100 admissions) accounted for most nosocomial infections (42%), followed by postoperative wound infections (26.8%) with a rate of 2.6/100 admissions. Nosocomial pneumonias and bloodstream infections also were common with 13.2% and 8.0%, respectively. The highest rates occurred on the intensive-care unit for both pneumonia (26.4/100 admissions) and bloodstream infection (7.0/100 admissions). The cost to the government for nosocomial infections was estimated at US $697,000 annually (US $1=$6 Trinidad and Tobago). Poor infection control practices, inadequate handwashing facilities, lack of supplies, and nonexistent garbage cans on most wards were quite evident.

Conclusions:

Strict adherence to proper infection control practices, such as handwashing techniques, and improvement of facilities are crucial steps in preventing cross-infections in the hospital environment. Implementing these measures may substantially reduce the massive drain on the hospital budget in treating nosocomial infections. The saved revenue could go toward improvement of ward facilities and reduction of over-crowding, thus further reducing cross-infection.

Type
The International Perspective
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , February 1998 , pp. 136 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998

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