[Can rates of nosocomial infections be considered as quality indicators?].
In the initial part of the article the efficacy of nosocomial infection control is discussed. It is established that no more than one third of nosocomial infections are preventable, but in practice hospitals are unlikely to achieve this prevention rate. Subsequently statistics on the rates of nosocomial infections in various countries are presented and the reasons are discussed why there are only estimated data available in Hungary. Then the technique of active nosocomial surveillance, a method accepted widely abroad for the collection of data is described. The use of this technique is still infrequent in Hungary. To clarify the relationship between the quality of medical care and the rates of nosocomial infections it would be appropriate that the majority of hospitals introduce some form of nosocomial surveillance. This would improve the effectiveness of nosocomial infection control and help to determine such optimal nosocomial infection rates which could serve as reliable indicators of the quality of medical care in hospitals.
Allami Népegészségügyi és Tisztiorvosi Szolgálat Fövárosi Intézete.
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D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care
Minöségi indikátor-e a nosocomiális fertözések aránya?