title: Prevalence of nosocomial infections in two Latvian hospitals.
abstract: The first point prevalence survey of the nosocomial infection (NI) rate was conducted in two Latvian hospitals. At the time of the survey 17.5% (226/1291) patients had symptoms or were being treated for infection. The overall prevalence rate was 5.6% (72/1291) for NI and 12.7% for community acquired infections (164/1291). Surgical site infection (SSI) was the most common NI (62%) followed by respiratory tract infection (RTI) (7.5%), and urinary tract infection (UTI) (6.4%). NI rate was higher with increasing age of patients, in intensive care units and surgical wards, and among those who had an intravenous device or urinary catheter. Microbiological investigation yielded positive results in 29% (21/72) of patients with NIs. Antibacterial treatment was given to 22.3% (288/1291) of hospitalised patients and in 62% (182/288) of these, cefazolin was prescribed. Results from this study will be used to plan a national prevalence survey.
authors.affiliation: Stradins University Hospital, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dumpis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balode
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vigante
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Narbute
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valinteliene
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pirags
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinsons
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vingre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007844:Latvia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology