Hospital-acquired infections: are prevention strategies matching incidence rates?

The threat of hospital-acquired infections, although known, continues to rise. Are hospitals setting guidelines in order to prevent hospital infections? If so, are the set guidelines effective? Astudy conducted across three hospitals showed a significant drop in the rates of surgical site infections (SSI) and hospital-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) by increasing the awareness of hospital-acquired infections among healthcare workers. An education program for the healthcare workers in the three different hospitals was included in the study. A prospective surveillance of surgical site wound infection and hospital-acquired UTI in patients undergoing surgery in these hospitals from January 2004 to March 2005 was conducted. This showed a significant reduction rate of 8.1% for SSI (P < 0.001) and 3.9% for hospital-acquired UTI (P < 0.001). Areduction of drug-resistant organisms was also found. The linking of prevention efforts and monitored infection rates are thus necessitated.