Conversion of prevalence survey data on nosocomial infections to incidence estimates: a simplified tool for surveillance?
We calculated the incidence of nosocomial infection in 2 intensive care units (ICUs) on the basis of prevalence data recorded from 1997 through 2002 and compared these estimates to cumulative incidences measured in the 2 ICUs during the same period to investigate the feasibility and the reliability of converting prevalence data to incidence estimates. Decreases in the calculated and measured incidences over time in the ICUs were found to be statistically significantly related.
Berthelot
Philippe
P
Infection Control Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Bellevue, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France. philippe.berthelot@chu-st-etienne.fr
Garnier
Maud
M
Fascia
Pascal
P
Guyomarch
Stéphane
S
Jospé
Richard
R
Lucht
Frédéric
F
Zéni
Fabrice
F
Auboyer
Christian
C
Pozzetto
Bruno
B
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance