title: Surveillance of nosocomial infections by antibiotic monitoring.
abstract: Records of all patients receiving intravenous gentamicin sulfate during a 92-day interval were reviewed to detect nosocomial infections that had been missed by routine surveillance. Only 46 of 48 of the 99 treatment courses had been detected. In 96% of cases not detected by routine surveillance, use of gentamicin was considered justified. Of the patients missed by surveillance, 83% were in oncology wards, and 46% had severe neutropenia and fever of unknown origin. Antibiotic surveillance proved a useful adjunct in estimating the incidence of nosocomial infections in such patients.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000517:prevention & control; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins