La infección intrahospitalaria: sus costos y probable asociación con las condiciones para la eficiencia

Abstract

The incidence of intrahospital infection in two Santiago’s Surgical Services was studied in 1987. The results showed a rate of 8.9% in the case of Service A and 11.9% in the case of Service B. The incidence of infections —relating them to the efficiency of the service— was analyzed. In Service A an under fulfillment of expected norms is appreciated. In the case of B, on the other hand, the most defective element is physical installations. Additional costs are fairly similar in both services, but while in A this is related to the use of costly drugs and tests, in B it is related to longer stays in hospital. The use of antibiotics is deficient in both services. The importance of prevention —with fulfillment of norms and system of epidemiological vigilance— is underlined, as well as the need for an adquate infrastructure and sufficient material resources.