Current opinion in infectious diseases
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In the majority of countries costs for health care are increasing and strategies to reduce adverse events in medical treatment have an increasing importance. Nosocomial infection remains the most common type of complication affecting hospitalized patients. As preventive strategies have indeed become more important they now have to show not only that they are effective in reducing nosocomial infections but also that they are cost effective. This paper investigates the contribution made by articles published in the last year to the development of nosocomial-infection surveillance and control policies. ⋯ The predominant opinion voiced in the studies was that in many medical institutions some 30% or more of nosocomial infections could be prevented.
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Extensive reviews of our current understanding of vascular catheter infections have recently been published. This update highlights 22 primary research articles selected from 415 randomized clinical trials and over 2500 other articles on vascular catheter infections published between January 2002 and March 2004. ⋯ Abundant evidence now exists that there are many interventions that can reduce the risk of vascular catheter infections. The next phase of our understanding should include determining how many of these many interventions are necessary and under what circumstances.