• D Zolldann, C Poetter, R Hilker, M Neveling, B Waitschies, W Klein, M Nolden-Koch, F Block, H M Wenchel, and S W Lemmen.
• Zentralbereich für Krankenhaushygiene, Universitätsklinikum Aachen. dzolldann@ukaachen.de
• Anaesthesist. 2003 Aug 1; 52 (8): 690-6.

Background And ObjectiveNosocomial infections are a common problem in intensive care therapy and have relevant influence on morbidity, mortality and associated costs. The aim of this study was to assess data on the epidemiology of nosocomial infections and related risk factors in neurological intensive care patients and to use them for internal quality management.MethodsProspective periodic surveillance was performed in the first quarter of the years 1999 and 2000 in two neurology intensive care units.ResultsWithin the surveillance period, 340 patients with 2443 patient days and a mean length of stay 7,6 days were enrolled. A total of 63 nosocomial infections were identified in 51 patients. In comparison with national reference data, device utilisation rates as well as device-associated nosocomial infection rates were on a higher level. By timely and interpretative feedback of the surveillance data, for the first time the unit-specific nosocomial infection situation was made clear for the ward staff. As a result, different quality management activities like establishment of evidence-based infection control guidelines, continuous surveillance for pneumonia and optimisation of empirical antibiotic therapy were initiated in both units.ConclusionThe establishment of periodic surveillance proved to be a valuable tool for the promotion of quality management activities in both intensive care units.

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