[Hospital infections in Norway 1999 and 2000].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this investigation was to measure the prevalence of hospital acquired infections in Norway in 1999 and 2000.


METHODS
The results are based on prevalence reports sent to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health from 41 hospitals in 1999 and 45 in 2000, out of a total of 80 somatic hospitals. With the exception of two hospitals, all registered the four most common hospital infections: urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection, surgical site infection, and septicaemia. In 1999, 35,612 patients were included; in 2000 35,712.


RESULTS
The prevalence of the four most common hospital infections was 5.4% in 1999 and 5.1% in 2000. Urinary tract infections accounted for about 36.5% of all infections during both years.


CONCLUSIONS
About one in every 20 patients has at any given time a hospital infection. This report identifies the distribution of hospital infections and where to initiate further preventive measures.
Eriksen
Hanne-Merete
HM
Seksjon for forebyggende infeksjonsmedisin, Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt, Postboks 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo. hanne-merete.eriksen@fhi.no
Iversen
Bjørn G
BG
Aavitsland
Preben
P
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology