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Prevalence of nosocomial infections in hospitals in Norway, 2002 and 2003.

Eriksen HM, Iversen BG, Aavitsland P

Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P. O. Box 4404, Nydalen 0403 Oslo, Norway. eriksenhanne@yahoo.com

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health initiated a national surveillance system for nosocomial infections in 2002. The system is based on two annual one-day prevalence surveys recording the four most common types of nosocomial infection: urinary tract infections; lower respiratory tract infections; surgical site infections and septicaemia. All acute care hospitals in Norway (N=76) were invited to participate in the four surveys in 2002 and 2003. The total prevalence of the four recorded nosocomial infections varied between 5.1% and 5.4% in the four surveys. In all surveys, nosocomial infections were located most frequently in the urinary tract (34%), followed by the lower respiratory tract (29%), surgical sites (28%) and septicaemia (8%). The prevalence surveys give a brief overview of the burden and distribution of nosocomial infections. The results can be used to prioritize further infection control measures and more detailed incidence surveillance of nosocomial infections.

Published 12 April 2005 in J Hosp Infect, 60(1): 40-5.
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