title: [Algorithms for hospital-acquired infection surveillance in intensive care units].
abstract: IINTRODUCTION: the occurrence of nosocomial infection in an intensive care unit is very high and increases the possibilities of the patient's death and the cost of care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to find out and apply diagnosis algorithms for nosocomial infection surveillance at the critical patient care service.
  
  
  METHODS
  in 2005, a three-phase research study was carried out in "Cira Garcia" clinics: management and analysis of international and national information on this topic, the preparation of the algorithm, and the application of such algorithm in nosocomial infections surveillance at the progressive care units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  three algorithms were found for the most frequent infections and they were used for the nosocomial infection diagnosis for 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the use of these algorithms is a good supporting method to identify nosocomial infection, which leads to a better and prompt diagnosis and facilitates the involvement of infectious control staff in the individual analysis of each patient.
authors: Clínica Central Cira García, de La Habana, Cuba. emma.suarez@infomed.sld.cu
authors: Sarmiento Emma C
authors: SE
authors: de la Suárez
authors: Pagés Manuel
authors: PM
authors: Bastanzuri
authors: José Gundian
authors: JG
authors: González-Piñera
authors: Ramos
authors: R
authors: Leandro Talledo
authors: Caridad Almanza
authors: CA
authors: Martínez
authors: Teresita
authors: T
authors: González Hernández
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011159:Population Surveillance