NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS IN GERMANY - SURVEI LLANCE AND PREVENTION (NIDEP STUDY PART-1) - THE PREVALENCE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENTS

One aim of the NIDEP study (nosocomial infections in Germany: surveill ance and prevention) was to determine in part 1 (surveillance) the pre valence of nosocomial infections (NI) in patients in surgical departme nts of 72 representatively selected hospitals in Germany. The surveill ance was carried out by four previously validated physicians who appli ed the CDC criteria for NI. The overall rate of NI was 3.8 %. Urinary tract infections (1.45 %) and surgical wound infections (1.34 %) were the most common NI. The highest rate of wound infections was noted aft er amputations (7.2 %), conventional appendectomies (4.1 %) or operati ons on the colon or rectum (3.8 %). The use of perioperative antibioti cs varied widely depending on the kind of operation and was not in acc ordance with international guidelines in all hospitals.