NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AMONG OB-GYN PATIEN TS FROM A SPECIALIZED PERINATAL HOSPITAL

Nosocomial infections (NI) are still a major cause of morbidity among gynecology & obstetrics patients(Gop). At the Instituto Nacional de Pe rinatologia (INPer), during 1989, there was an overall NI rate of 2.37 per 100 GOP discharged, while specific NI rates for the subgroups of puerperal and gynecologic surgery patients were 2.11 and 6.3 respectiv ely. Endometritis and infected surgical wounds were the most frequent type of NI, having a multimicrobial etiology. There was a significant increase in hospital days of stay for those patients who developed NI. It is clearly necessary to improve the surveillance of NI as well as the colaboration among different wards dealing whith GOP, in order to find more effective and efficient ways to prevent the development of N I.