How to survey nosocomial infections

Many surveillance methods for nosocomial infections (NIs) have been put for ward in the literature, and all have their advantages and disadvantages. Di fferent surveillance methods are useful, depending on whether the objective of surveillance is only to increase sensitivity to infection control probl ems and to identify areas with possible infection control problems; to conf irm a possible infection control problem through comparison with other unit s or departments; or to use surveillance data for identifying the sources o f infections. Furthermore, time effectiveness is a major point in selecting the most appropriate method, particularly the method for case identificati on. In units or departments with a high level of NI, even highly time-consu ming surveillance methods may be ultimately time-effective; in units or dep artments with a lower level of NI, the time-effectiveness depends on the ti me necessary for case identification. Close liaison with staff in the units is a sine qua non for the success of all surveillance activities (Infect C ontrol Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21:366-370).