[Nosocomial infection surveillance: experience at a cardiology hospital in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of the Nosocomial Infection surveillance program at the Cardiology Hospital in Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI of the Mexican Social Security Institute.


METHODS
To inform of the epidemiologic follow-up results from January 2000 to July 2003. Global frequency, infection rates by infection site, hospital services, and frequency of most common microorganisms were estimated.


RESULTS
During this period, global incidence showed that in every 100 discharges, there were 4.3 infections (4.3/100). Frequency of infection was slightly higher in the surgical intensive care unit. Average infection rate in lower respiratory tract infections was 27/1,000; in surgical-site infections: 8/1,000 (mediastinitis 0.8/1,000); it was found that in urinary tract infection, rate was 6.6/1,000. Most commonly isolated microorganisms were: coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (25%), Enterobacter sp. (17%), Candida albicans (13%), S. aureus (9%), P. aeruginosa (9%) and K. pneumoniae (6%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study describes the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in a Cardiology Hospital. The information is obtained through epidemiologic follow-up programs. This information is very important to develop specific strategies for control of infections.
Valenzuela-Flores
Adriana A
AA
Unidad de Investigacíon en Epidemiología Hospitalaria Coordinacíon de Investigación en la Salud, IMSS, CP 06720 México, D.F. abigailval@hotmail.com
Rangel-Frausto
M Sigfrido
MS
Gutiérrez-García
José N
JN
Valenzuela-Flores
A Gabriela
AG
Tabal-Galán
Natividad
N
D002300:Cardiac Care Facilities; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011159:Population Surveillance