[Surveillance of surgical-site infections: results of the INCISO 1998 Network].
OBJECTIVE
Surveillance of Surgical-Site Infection (SSI) in general and visceral surgical departments.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Inter-regional Co-ordinating Center for Nosocomial Infection Control (C.CLIN Paris-Nord). Regions of Ile de France, Haute Normandie, Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardie.


METHODS
From January 1 to April 1, 1998, each surgical department had included 200 consecutive operations. To diagnose SSI occurring after discharge, patients were followed during one month after surgery. SSI were defined according to standardized criteria.


RESULTS
Overall, 16.506 surgeries were followed in 120 surgical units. The rate of postoperative SSI was 3.9% (95CI = [3.6%-4.2%]). The rate of SSI varied from 5.2% for digestive surgery to 0.9% for endocrine system, and 2.3% for cholecystectomy to 16.6% for peritonitis. According to the NNIS index, SSI rates increased from 2.2% for patients with a risk index of 0 to 26.7% for patients with a risk index of 3. The case fatality rate directly or indirectly attributable to SSI was 2.0% (95CI = [1.1%-3.5%]).


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence of SSI render crucial the implementation of SSI surveillance in surgery. Risk factors and type of surgical procedures are required to obtain standardized rates for comparisons between services.
Golliot
F
F
Centre inter-régional de Coordination de la Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales (C.CLIN Paris-Nord).
Astagneau
P
P
Brücker
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors