Prevalence of nosocomial infections in France: results of the nationwide survey in 1996

To estimate the prevalence of nosocomial infections (NI) and to increase he althcare professionals' awareness of hygiene, all French hospitals were req uested to participate to a national point-prevalence survey on a voluntary basis between May and June, 1996. Of the 236 334 inpatients in 830 particip ating hospitals, 6.7% presented with at least one nosocomial infection and 1.3% with an NI imported from another hospital. Nosocomial infection preval ence was particularly high in rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, especially: for urinary tract and skin/soft tissue infections. Postoperati ve patients accounted for 18% of the overall population and had twice the f requency of NI as other patients. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S taphylococcus aureus was 0.6% and accounted for,57%, of all S. aureus isola ted from NI. The results of this first national prevalence survey reflect t he sustained efforts at combating NI over the past decade in France and pro vided an incentive for better definition of infection control priorities in high-risk healthcare settings. (C) 2000 The Hospital Infection Society.