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Surveillance of Healthcare-Acquired Infections in Queensland, Australia: Data and Lessons From the First 5 Years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Anthony P. Morton ,
Archie C. A. Clements ,
Shane R. Doidge ,
Jenny Stackelroth ,
Merrilyn Curtis  and
Michael Whitby
Anthony P. Morton
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Archie C. A. Clements*
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Shane R. Doidge
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Jenny Stackelroth
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Merrilyn Curtis
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Michael Whitby
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention (CHRISP), Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia ([email protected])
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Abstract

Objective.

To present healthcare-acquired infection surveillance data for 2001-2005 in Queensland, Australia.

Design.

Observational prospective cohort study.

Setting.

Twenty-three public hospitals in Queensland.

Methods.

We used computer-assisted surveillance to identify episodes of surgical site infection (SSI) in surgical patients. The risk-adjusted incidence of SSI was calculated by means of a risk-adjustment score modified from that of the US National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, and the incidence of inpatient bloodstream infection (BSI) was adjusted for risk on the basis of hospital level (level 1, tertiary referral center; level 2, large general hospital; level 3, small general hospital). Funnel and Bayesian shrinkage plots were used for between-hospital comparisons.

Patients.

A total of 49,804 surgical patients and 4,663 patients who experienced healthcare-associated BSI.

Results.

The overall cumulative incidence of in-hospital SSI ranged from 0.28% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%–1.54%) for radical mastectomies to 6.15% (95% CI, 3.22%–10.50%) for femoropopliteal bypass procedures. The incidence of inpatient BSI was 0.80,0.28, and 0.22 episodes per 1,000 occupied bed-days in level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated microorganism for SSI and BSI. Funnel and shrinkage plots showed at least 1 hospital with a signal indicating a possible higher-than-expected rate of S. aureus-associated BSI.

Conclusions.

Comparisons between hospitals should be viewed with caution because of imperfect risk adjustment. It is our view that the data should be used to improve healthcare-acquired infection control practices using evidence-based systems rather than to judge institutions.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 29 , Issue 8 , August 2008 , pp. 695 - 701
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2008

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