Epidemiologic methods for selective surveillance.

Abstract

To allow time for problem-solving and staff education aimed at the prevention of future nosocomial infections, it is necessary for infection control practitioners to decrease the quantity of data-gathering activities and increase the quality of data analysis and action based on the data. A system by which certain high-risk patient groups and life-threatening infection sites are monitored by continuous surveillance every month, but other units and sites are selected on a rotating basis for periodic study, has been called "selective surveillance" and used at our 500-bed medical center for eight years. The system is backed by an essential third component: a network of inspections with prevalence studies, prospective studies of medical and surgical procedures, retrospective studies of sites with low endemic rates, and immediate investigations of clusters of infection. Success of this system is based on good daily communication with laboratory and nursing personnel and use of sound epidemiologic methods.