An 11-month incidence study of infections in wards of a district general hospital

Between March 1988 and January 1989, an incidence study of infections in patients occupying 122 beds in a district general hospital was undertaken. Nursing notes, medical notes, temperature charts, drug prescription charts and laboratory information were reviewed three times a week to determine if patients had infection which met strict case definitions. In addition, the surveyor consulted with ward nursing and medical staff for clarification of symptoms and signs indicative of infection. During the study, 668 infections were identified amongst 3326 patients. Three hundred and thirty-eight (51%) were community-acquired infections (CAI) and 330 hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Excluding 24 HAI acquired in other hospitals, the incidence rates were 9·2 HAI per 100 discharges, and 1·1 HAI per 100 patient days. The common types of CAI were pneumonia, abdominal infection and urinary tract infection. The main types of HAI were urinary tract infection, surgical wound infection and pneumonia. The microorganisms most frequently associated with CAI and HAI were Gram-negative bacilli.