TY - JOUR
T1 - Surveillance of nosocomial infections by computer analysis of positive culture rats
AU - Schifman, R. B.
AU - Palmer, R. A.
PY - 1985
Y1 - 1985
N2 - We describe a surveillance method that identifies excessive rates of positive cultures based on patient location, culture site, and organism identification. During a 6-month period, this surveillance method, coupled with epidemiological investigations, identified 19 small clusters of cross-infections and three small outbreaks of intravenous catheter-related bacteremias. These infections was associated with apparent breakdown in proper technique. Concurrent, standard surveillance activities identified only three of these problems. These results demonstrate that computer analysis of positive culture rates is a sensitive and time-efficient method for detecting potentially preventable nosocomial infections.
AB - We describe a surveillance method that identifies excessive rates of positive cultures based on patient location, culture site, and organism identification. During a 6-month period, this surveillance method, coupled with epidemiological investigations, identified 19 small clusters of cross-infections and three small outbreaks of intravenous catheter-related bacteremias. These infections was associated with apparent breakdown in proper technique. Concurrent, standard surveillance activities identified only three of these problems. These results demonstrate that computer analysis of positive culture rates is a sensitive and time-efficient method for detecting potentially preventable nosocomial infections.
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U2 - 10.1128/jcm.21.4.493-495.1985
DO - 10.1128/jcm.21.4.493-495.1985
M3 - Article
C2 - 3988895
AN - SCOPUS:0021932631
VL - 21
SP - 493
EP - 495
JO - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
SN - 0095-1137
IS - 4
ER -