[Nosocomial infection and infection of the surgical site in a third level hospital (2002-2005)].

INTRODUCTION Nosocomial infection rates constitute an indicator of welfare quality, permitting to adopt measures of prevention and control. It has been developed a surveillance plan of the nosocomial infection in hospitals, showing to be an efficient method to diminish its incident. OBJECTIVE To know the indicators and characteristics of the nosocomial infection and of the infection of the site surgical particularly, in a urology service in a global form and by procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective study by means of the epidemiological surveillance system from 2002 to 2005 in 4.618 patients hospitalised at least 24 hours, with a total of 3.096 surgical. RESULTS The overall incidence of nosocomial infection was 6,10%, 3.42% for urinary infection and 2,81% for the infection of the chirurgical site. For procedures, the incidence of the infection of the surgical site for cistectomy was 22,8%, 6,6% for surgery of kidney and ureter and 4,36% for open surgery of prostate. Eschericia Coli (43,6%) was the most frequently isolated organism, accounting for 43,6% of the causative organisms in the infection of the surgical site and 43,6% in the urinary infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the next organism in frequency with a 15% in both infections. CONCLUSION Our nosocomial infection rates are lower than the published standard values. The main infection rate of the surgical sites present in the most complex surgical techniques, whereas Escherichia Coli is the most frecuently isolated ethiological agent. The surveillance of the infection of the surgical site and related factors permit to incorporate improvements in the clinical-surgical practice which will be an indicator of reference in subsequent analysis.