A practical application of Rhame and Sudderth's formula on nosocomial infection surveillance.
We have conducted an epidemiological analysis of the utility of Rhame and Sudderth's formula--establishing a relationship between prevalence, incidence and duration of nosocomial infection--as an effective model in the surveillance of such infection. We carried out a follow-up study in a surgical service of our hospital on a sample of 799 patients admitted between January 1 and June 17, 1983 (24 weeks). We confirmed the condition of steady-state and were able to conclude that the Rhame and Sudderth model can have great utility when cross-sectional studies are performed with an adequate interval. We also concluded that the application of this model is not influenced by the size of the ward or zone of survey.
Delgado-Rodríguez
M
M
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain.
Cueto Espinar
A
A
Rodríguez-Contreras Pelayo
R
R
Gálvez Vargas
R
R
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay