Infection Control in Small Hospitals

Authors:
  • MBMichael R. Britt
    Michael R. Britt
  • JBJohn P. Burke
    John P. Burke
  • ANAda G. Nordquist
    Ada G. Nordquist
  • JWJames N. Wilfert
    James N. Wilfert
  • CSCharles B. Smith
    Charles B. Smith
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Abstract
In prevalence surveys of 18 small hospitals in the intermountain region, 20.4% of the patients had community-acquired infections and 7.2% had infections acquired in the hospital. The types of nosocomial infections and patterns of antibiotic usage were similar to those encountered in large hospitals. In the small hospitals, 49% of the suspected bacterial infections were cultured, whereas at a nearby large hospital 77% were cultured. Seventeen of these small hospitals had an infection-control committee but these committees were unable to assess adequately the extent of their nosocomial infection problems. Monitoring of the environment with bacterial cultures was a frequent practice; overall, a ratio of one environmental culture was performed to each three diagnostic cultures. These results indicate the need to develop and evaluate nosocomial infection control programs in small hospitals. (JAMA236:1700-1703, 1976)

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