Organization and scope of surveillance of infections in Polish hospitals. Results of the project prohibit

Abstract

Background: The paper presents results of a survey on organization of surveillance programs in Polish hospitals. Survey was performed by means of the standardized questionnaire in the year 2012. MATERIALAND METHOD: Completed questionnaires were obtained from 9 hospitals of different size and type: 3 small, 2 medium and 4 large, most of them public (6 hospitals). Questions concerning general organization of the infection control in hospitals were answered by infection control teams.

Results: Infection control team works in every hospital and the head of the team in 8 hospitals is a physician. In most hospitals number of epidemiological nurses per 100 beds range from 0.4 to 0.8. In every hospital surveillance comprises all the most important from epidemiological point of view forms of infections: surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, Clostridium difficile and MDRO surveillance - in all wards. Infection cases in 5 hospitals are documented by epidemiological nurse in collaboration with infection control physician or physician of the ward. In rest of the hospitals cases are documented by infection control physician. Feedback on infection rates to HCWs are given twice a year in most hospitals. In most of hospitals surveillance has been running for over 10 years.

Conclusions: The results from this small group may suggest that the surveillance programs are complex and well organized. But, more detailed analysis and comparison with data reported in others countries (especially those concerning hand hygiene or number of microbiological tests) indicate the need of improvements in the field.