A Comparison of Methods for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections

Abstract

Data available for the monitoring of nosocomial infections, including mandatory state reports of communicable diseases, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, National Nosocomial Infections Study reports, and ad hoc epidemiologic investigations are discussed in this article, and their usefulness, validity, limitations, and representativeness are compared. Problems with interpretation of hospital infection “rates” are described, and solutions are proposed.