title: Prevalence of nosocomial infections after surgery in Greek hospitals: results of two nationwide surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and type of nosocomial infections (NIs) (especially surgical-site infections [SSIs]), risk factors, and the type and duration of antibiotic use among surgical patients in Greek hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two point-prevalence studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen Greek hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Those in the hospitals during two prevalence surveys undergoing surgery during their stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 1999 survey, 129 of 1,037 surgical patients had developed 148 NIs (14.3%). A total of 1,093 operations were registered, and 49 SSIs (4.5%) were found. In the 2000 survey, 82 of 868 surgical patients had developed 88 NIs (10.1%). A total of 902 operations were registered, and 38 SSIs were detected (4.2%). The median length of stay (LOS) for surgical patients without SSI was 10.0 days (range, 1-19 days); for patients who developed SSI it was 30 days (range, 1-52 days; P < .001). The median LOS prior to surgery for patients without SSI was 1 day (range, 0-4 days); for patients who developed SSI it was 3 days (range, 0-7.5 days; P < .001). Among 30 possible risk factors studied, wound class, LOS prior to surgery, and central venous catheterization were independent predictors of SSI. Median durations of prophylactic antibiotic therapy were 4 days (range, 1-14 days) and 6 days (range, 1-16 days) in the 1999 and 2000 surveys, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical patients in Greek hospitals suffered higher rates of SSI than did surgical patients in other developed countries while prophylactic antibiotics were used excessively.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Heraklion 1352/71110 Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roumbelaki
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pediaditis
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Stamatina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levidiotou
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kartali
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kioumis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
authors.forename: Symeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metalidis
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anevlavis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haliotis
authors.forename: Hariton
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kolibiris
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tselentis
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control