Surveillance: retrospective versus prospective.
A survey was undertaken to determine if a retrospective review of charts for nosocomial infections could be as accurate as a prospective review of charts. The retrospective review was done by medical record technicians using criteria established by the Infection Control Committee and the medical staff. The infection control nurse reviewed the data collected by the Medical Records Department before the monthly report was completed. Surveillance was done prospectively by the infection control nurse and an R.N. helper. The study was carried out on two nursing units. The infection control team used the same criteria as the medical record technicians. At the end of the 4-month study period, infections found by medical record technicians were compared to those found by the infection control team. The Medical Records Department identified more nosocomial infections than did the nurse team. It was concluded that the Medical Records Department can do an accurate review of charts for nosocomial infection and that their report is reliable to show basic trends. The infection control nurse is then able to spend her time on special studies and investigations as well as employee education.
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008485:Medical Audit; D008500:Medical Records Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies