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A Prevalence Survey of Infections in a Combined Acute and Long-Term Care Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Susan J. Standfast ,
Phyllis B. Michelsen ,
Aldona L. Baltch ,
Raymond P. Smith ,
Ethel K. Latham ,
Ann B. Spellacy ,
Richard A. Venezia  and
Mary H. Andritz
Susan J. Standfast
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Phyllis B. Michelsen
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Aldona L. Baltch*
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Raymond P. Smith
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Ethel K. Latham
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Ann B. Spellacy
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Richard A. Venezia
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
Mary H. Andritz
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Section, Microbiology Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, New York, theAlbany Medical College, and theAlbany College of Pharmacy
*
Infectious Disease Section, VA Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208
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Abstract

A prevalence survey of infections among 572 acute and long-term care patients in the Albany Veterans Administration Medical Center was conducted in September 1979. Presence of infection was determined by patient examination and chart review. Urine specimens from 94% of patients were cultured. The total number of clinically significant infections was 178; 117 were nosocomial (20.5 per 100 patients). The prevalence rate of nosocomial infections was highest on the Intermediate Service (long-term medical care) followed by the Surgical and Medical Services. Sites with the highest nosocomial infection rates were urinary tract (10.7), skin and subcutaneous tissues (5.1), and surgical wounds (3.0) per 100 patients. Nosocomial infections increased with age and length of hospital stay which partially explained the higher rate on the Intermediate Service. Patients using condom drainage and Foley catheters showed similarly high rates of bacteriuria. Antimicrobial drug use was 17% for acute care patients and 4% for long-term and psychiatry patients. Excepting Providencia stuartii urinary tract infection confined to the Intermediate Service, the bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibilities were similar for the acute and long-term care services.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , April 1984 , pp. 177 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1984

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