title: Feeding back surveillance data to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
abstract: We describe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system. Elements of the system critical for successful reduction of nosocomial infection rates include voluntary participation and confidentiality; standard definitions and protocols; identification of populations at high risk; site-specific, risk- adjusted infection rates comparable across institutions; adequate numbers of trained infection control professionals; dissemination of data to health-care providers; and a link between monitored rates and prevention efforts.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. rpg1@cdc.gov
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gaynes
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Richards
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Edwards
authors: T G
authors: TG
authors: Emori
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Horan
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Alonso-Echanove
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fridkin
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lawton
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Peavy
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Tolson
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology