Interpretation of acute abdomen in the immunocompromised patients: WSES/SIS-E/WSIS/AAST/GAIS guideline / 中华危重病急救医学

World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), in conjunction with Surgical Infection Society Europe (SIS-E), World Surgical Infection Society (WSIS), American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), and Global Alliance for Infection in Surgery (GAIS) developed guideline about the management of acute abdomen in immunocompromised patients, which was published in the World Journal of Emergency Surgery (WJES) on August 9, 2021. The guidelines elaborate on the definition, classification, diagnosis and treatment of immunocompromised patients. In addition, based on evidence-based medicine, it provides guidance and suggestion on the management of specific acute abdominal infections in immunocompromised patients, common acute abdominal infections in transplanted patients, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as perioperative steroid management. An interpretation of the guideline was performed to accomplish a better understanding the current status and recommendations for the management of acute abdominal conditions in immunocompromised patients, and to make forward suggestions on its limitations.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in laparoscopic cholecistectomy: is it worth doing? / Profilaxia antibiótica na colecistectomia laparoscópica: vale a pena fazer?

ABSTRACT Background: Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy has very low risk for infectious complications, ranging the infection rate from 0.4% to 1.1%. Many surgeons still use routine antibiotic prophylaxis Aim: Evaluate the real impact of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies in low risk patients. Method: Prospective, randomized and double-blind study. Were evaluated 100 patients that underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy divided in two groups: group A (n=50), patients that received prophylaxis using intravenous Cephazolin (2 g) during anesthetic induction and group B (n=50), patients that didn't receive any antibiotic prophylaxis. The outcome evaluated were infeccious complications at surgical site. The patients were reviewed seven and 30 days after surgery. Results: There was incidence of 2% in infection complications in group A and 2% in group B. There was no statistical significant difference of infectious complications (p=0,05) between the groups. The groups were homogeneous and comparable. Conclusion: The use of the antibiotic prophylaxis in laparoscopic cholecystectomy in low risk patients doesn't provide any significant benefit in the decrease of surgical wound infection.

RESUMO Racional: A colecistectomia laparoscópica eletiva apresenta risco muito baixo para complicações infecciosas, com média de infecção entre 0,4% a 1,1%. Muitos cirurgiões ainda utilizam de rotina profilaxia antibiótica Objetivo: Avaliar a real necessidade de profilaxia antibiótica em colecistectomias laparoscópicas eletivas em pacientes de baixo risco para infecção do sítio cirúrgico. Método: Estudo prospectivo, randomizado e duplo-cego, em pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia laparoscópica eletiva, envolvendo 100 pacientes em dois grupos: A (n=50), que receberam profilaxia com cefazolina 2 g intravenoso na indução anestésica; B (n=50), não foi utilizado antibiótico. O desfecho avaliado foi presença de complicações infecciosas de sítio cirúrgico. Os pacientes foram revisados em sete e 30 dias no pós-operatório. Resultados: As taxas de complicações infecciosas foi de 2% no grupo A e de também 2% no grupo B. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p>0,05) entre os grupos que foram homogêneos e comparáveis. Conclusão: A antibioticoprofilaxia na colecistectomia laparoscópica em pacientes de baixo risco não apresenta nenhum benefício significativo na redução da incidência de infecção do sítio cirúrgico.

Application of continuous negative pressure of the vacuum sealing drainage dressing's aspiration in the open infected wound / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the effects of the treatment of open injury and orthopedic postoperative wound infections with Vacuum Sealing Drainage.Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical results of 32 patients with open injury or orthopedic postoperative wound infections in our hospital.Results Follow the indications and contraindications strictly and ensure right pressure,all the infection of wounds was controlled,and split skin graft survived.Without the package and pressurized fixation,the wounds healed better.Conclusion Vacuum Sealing Drainage can be considered one of the effective methods to treat the open injury or orthopedic postoperative wound infections and is worthy to be carried out as a routine.For patients with vascular rupture or defect,when there was still skin defects after vascular graft repair,as long as covered vascular anastomosis with the surrounding skin and soft tissue during the operation,there was still can use closed vacuum sealing drainage to cover the wound to prevent infection.

Detection of invasive fungi DNA load in human whole blood samples with universal fungi primers and probe / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To establish a real-time quantitative PCR(RQ-PCR)assay for fast detection of invasive fungi DNA in human whole blood samples with universal fungi primers and probe.Methods The universal fungi primers and the TaqMan-probe were designed on the basis of the multi-copy 5.8S region of the rDNA of the clinically most common invasive fungi.The invasive fungi genomic DNA were extracted with QIAamp?DNA Blood Mini Kit.A 20 μl RQ-PCR amplification system was established,and the simulated blood samples containing various given load of invasive fungi genome and the 71 whole blood samples of the surgical febrile patients were examined.Results The detection limit is 101 copies/μl amplification mixture,namely 105 copies/ml whole blood.The sensitivity and the specificity were 95.5％ and 97.6％,respectively; and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 98.7％ and 92.0％,respectively.The correlation coefficient of standard curve was between 0.9931 and 0.9977.The intra-and the inter-assay average coefficients of variation were(10.4 ±4.0)％ and(27.9 ± 2.0)％,respectively.The average relative recovery rate of fungi genomic DNA in blood samples was(91.0 ±7.6)％,and the average coefficients of variation of the relative recovery rate was(14.9 ±4.0)％.No fungi DNA was detected among the 71 blood samples of the surgical febrile patients.Conclusions The RQ-PCR assay for fast quantitative detection of invasive fungal DNA in human whole blood samples with the universal fungi primers and the TaqMan-probe was of high sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and precision,and is able to discriminate fungi from bacteria.The invasive fungi genome was not detected in this group of surgical patients,which may imply the less possibility of fungi translocation in the surgical febrile patients.

Detection of Aspergillus fumigatus genome load in human whole blood samples by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and its clinical application / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To establish a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) assay for fast detection of Aspergillus fumigatus genome in human whole blood samples and explore its clinical application.Methods The primers and the TaqMan-probe were designed on the basis of the multi-copy ITS1-5. 8S region of the rDNA of Aspergillus fumigatus. The Aspergillus fumigatus genomic DNA were extracted with QIAamp(R) DNA Blood Mini Kit.A 20 μl RQ-PCR amplification system was established, and the simulated blood samples containing various given load of Aspergillus fumigatus genome and the 66 whole blood samples of the surgical febrile patients were examined. Results The detection limit of the RQ-PCR instrument is 10-1 genomes/μl DNA sample,namely 78 CFU/ml whole blood. The specificity and the sensitivity were 94. 25% and 99. 04% respectively; and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 97. 63% and 97. 62% respectively. The average relative error of the quantitative results was (3. 67 ±13. 19)%, and the intra- and the inter-assay average coefficients of variation were (12.38 ± 1. 53)% and (16. 27 ±2. 72)% , respectively. The average recovery rate of Aspergillus fumigatus genomic DNA in human whole blood samples was (107. 81 ±25. 92)% , and the average coefficient of variation of the average recovery rate was (26. 24 ± 5.62) % . No Aspergillus fumigatus genomic DNA was detected among the 66 blood samples of the surgical febrile patients. Conclusions The RQ-PCR assay for fast quantitative detection of Aspergillus fumigatus genome in human whole blood samples is of high sensitivity, specificity,accuracy and precision. The Aspergillus fumigatus genome was not detected in this group of surgical febrile patients.

Sistema informatizado de notificação de infecção cirúrgica pós-alta no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - RS / Electronic surveillance system of post-discharge surgical site infection at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil

Introdução: Este trabalho descreve o sistema informatizado de vigilância de infecção cirúrgica pós-alta. Métodos: Foram comparadas as taxas de infecção relacionadas a sítio cirúrgico em dois períodos, antes e após a implantação do sistema informatizado, de janeiro de 1999 a fevereiro de 2002 (período I, 38 meses) e de janeiro de 2005 a março de 2006 (período II, 14 meses). O sistema apura dados referentes a tempo cirúrgico, potencial de contaminação da cirurgia, classificação de gravidade do paciente e notificação pelo cirurgião, realizada compulsoriamente quando da revisão ambulatorial. Após a implantação do sistema informatizado, foi possível quase duplicar o número de infecções detectadas, de 2,5% (período I) para 4,4% (período II). No que se refere às taxas de infecção pós-cirurgias limpas detectadas no período pósalta, a taxa de infecção aumentou de 0,2% para 1,9%, resultando em uma melhora de detecção de 1,7%. Foi possível o cálculo conforme padronização de risco proposta internacionalmente. Conclusão: A informatização propiciou a detecção de um grande número de casos de infecção aos quais não tínhamos acesso anteriormente e favoreceu a utilização de um sistema de indicadores de infecção aceito internacionalmente, permitindo comparações dos nossos índices de infecção, o que possibilitou uma avaliação mais crítica dos nossos processos de trabalho.

Background: This paper describes the impact of the implementation of an electronic post-discharge surveillance system to detect surgical site infection (SSI). Methods: We compared the frequency of SSI during two periods: from January 1999 to February 2002 (phase I - 38 months) and from January 2005 to March 2006 (phase II - 14 months). The post-discharge surveillance system collects data from outpatient clinics and surgical reports. Such information includes data related to: surgical duration, risk index category (ASA), level of wound contamination and the surgeon report, which is compulsorily requested during follow-up outpatient appointment. The implementation of the post-discharge electronic SSI surveillance system almost duplicated the number of detected SSI in the two analyzed periods, respectively 2.5% (phase I) and 4.4% (phase II). The post-discharge surveillance system also allowed the use of standardized mechanisms for external comparison. Conclusion: The electronic surveillance system detected a substantial number of SSI that would not be identified using conventional mechanisms of surveillance and provided managerial data that enabled international standardized comparison. That improvement enabled us to reinforce quality improvement strategies of SSI surveillance.

Detection of Candida albicans in the venous blood of the surgical febrile patients by real-time quantitative PCR / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To establish the real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) assay for detecting Candida albicans (C.albicans) in whole blood and its clinical application in the febrile surgical patients who may develop gut barrier damage and gut microorganism translocation.Methods The NAG1 gene,which is a single copy in C.albicans genome,was selected as the target gene for designing the primers and probe.The plasmid was fabricated and produced as standard samples.C.albicans genomes were extracted with QIAamp(R) DNA Blood Mini Kit,and the total 20 μl TaqMan RQ-PCR amplification reaction system was established.The 74 venous blood samples from the surgical febrile patients were detected for C.albicans load.Results The specificities of the primers and probe were excellent,the correlation coefficients of the standard curves were between 0.9918 and 0.9985,and the efficiency of amplification was 0.88-1.027 for the samples above the lowest detection limit (100 copies/μl examine fluid,or nearly 1.1 × 103 cfu/ml whole blood).The average accuracy of the RQ-PCR equipment was (99.64±2.08) %,the sensitivity was 97.46%,the specificity was 100%,and the average coefficients of variation (CV) of the intra-and inter-assay were (14.76±2.64)% and (17.85±3.53)%,respectively.The average recovery rate of C.albicans DNA in whole blood samples was (88.60±5.73) %,and the average CV of recovery rate was (11.70 ±5.36) %.The number of copies of C.albicans genes per unit blood was not significantly different among the same original blood samples stored separately under-20℃ for 3 or 6 months when compared with its freshly collected blood (P = 0.267).In the 74 whole blood samples obtained from the febrile surgical patients,the positive rate of C.albicans genes was 2.7% and the highest load was 4.42×103 cfu/ml.Conclusions RQ-PCR is a rapid,sensitive,highly specific,and reproducible method in detecting C.albicans NAG1 gene.Clinically it can be used to quantitatively evaluate the numbers of C.albicans in the whole blood.A small percentage of the febrile surgical patients may develop blood infection of C.albicans.

Pathogens in Surgically Infective Specimen:An Analysis / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To study the distribution and drug-resistance status of pathogens in surgically infective specimen in Renmin Hospital of Qichun County and provide the reference for clinically reasonable use of antibiotics.METHODS The infective specimen were collected to perform bacterial culture.The routine methods were adopted to identify pathogenic bacterium.Susceptibility testing was performed by K-B method.RESULTS Among 322 strains from surgically infective specimen,Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,ranking the top three,accounted for 25.2%,15.8% and 13.0%,respectively.The detection rate of meticillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA) was 32.1%.And that of meticillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus(MRCNS) was 33.3%.That of extended spectrum ?-lactamases(ESBLs) producer in E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae was 34.5%.Various pathogenic bacterium had been resistant to antibiotics to different extents.100.0% of Gram-positive cocci were sensitive to vancomycin.The sensitivity rate to imipenem in Gram-negative bacilli was 19.0-100.0%.CONCLUSIONS Drug resistance variesd from pathogenic bacterium in surgical infection.The clinician should reasonably choose antibiotics according to results of bacterial culture to avoid occurrence and prevalence of drug-resistance bacterium.

Improve the efficacy of nutritional support in infectious patients / 中华消化外科杂志

The aim of nutritional support is to maintain the metabolic function of cells, organs and the whole body, and also to reduce the total energy consumption, finally promotes the patients to recover. Infectious patients are often in the status of high catabolism and negative nitrogen balance. It is necessary for such patients to receive nutritional support, however, the performance is difficult because of the high catabolism status and disorder of physiological function. What is more, inappropriate performance may lead to even worse outcome. Accordingly, the current clinical researches focus on how to improve the effects of nutritional support in infectious patients. Several aspects on this issue including the time, route, dose, metabolic intervention and immune modulation are discussed.

Whether preventive drainage is needed or not after abdominal surgery / 中华消化外科杂志

Abdominal drainage is the most common technique applied in the abdominal surgery. According to the aim of drainage, it can be divided into curative drainage and preventive drainage, but there is no obvious difference between the 2 drainages. Abdominal drainage is not necessary after parenchymal viscera operation, but necessary after spleenectomy in preventing infection. For cavity viscera operation, abdominal drainage is applied according to the infectious condition, but scholars at home and abroad have different opinions on this point. Surgeons should pay attention to the placement of the drainage tube in patients who received preventive drainage.

Effects of nutritional support on the hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of nutritional support on the hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection. Methods Twenty-nine patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection were administered parenteral nutrition (PN) for 4 to 8 days, and then followed by enteral nutrition (EN) or EN + PN. The body weight, serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, fibronectin were monitored before and on the 10th and 28th day after nutritional support. Results The levels of serum prealbumin and fibronectin were increased significantly on the 10th day after nutritional support (t = 3.72, 3.52, P <0.01). The body weight, the levels of serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and fibronectin were significantly higher than those before nutritional support (t=3.97, 6.57, 7.09, 3.51, 3.58, P<0.01). Conclusion Nutritional support is effective in alleviating hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection.

Role of source control in the surgical infection / 中华消化外科杂志

Source control includes all the physical inter-ventious to treat surgical infection. The main procedures are drainage of abscesses, debridement of nonviable or infected tissue and definitive management of the anatomic abnormality which is responsible for ongoing microbial contamination. The new concept of damage control surgery expedites the wide use of percutaneous drainage of abcess and abdominal open surgery. Second-look laparotomy is another damage control procedure for the eradication of surgical infection. Surgical infection could hardly be controled without effective source control measures. Source control plays a key role in the management of surgical infection.

Analysis of pathogen spectra and their drug resistance in patients with enterocutaneous fistula complicated with abdominal infection / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To study the pathogen spectra in patients with enterocutaneous fistula complicated with abdominal infection and their resistance to antibiotics. Methods The abdominal pus was collected from 226 patients with enterocutaneous fistula complicated with abdominal infection for bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility test. Results A total of 520 bacterial strains were harvested, including 333 strains of gram-negative bacteria, I 80 strains of gram-positive bacteria and 7 strains of fungi. The top 10 bacteria cultured were Escherichia coli (131 strains), Staphylococcus aureus (62 strains), Enterococcus (59 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae (23 strains), Acinetobacter baumannii (18 strains), Enterobacter cloacae (17 strains), Proteus mirabilis (15 strains), Morganella morganii (15 strains) and Enterococcus faecalis (12 strains). The extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 102 and 17 strains, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were 60 strains. Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria were the main pathogens in patients with enterocutaneous fistula complicated with abdominal infection. The positive rate of the extended spectrum beta-lactamase is high. Most of the Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to Methicillin.

Study on the present and resistance of E.coli in some specimens of surgical infection

Evaluation of the presence and resistance of E.coli in some specimens of surgical infection in Viet Duc Hospital, Military Hospital No.103 and Central Military Hospital No.108. The results showed that: E.coli was present in 23% of surgical infection’s specimens. Among 310 E.coli strains isolated from these specimens, the distribution of E.coli was different: E.coli in bile solution was 28.1%, in urine and pus were 21.3%. E.coli isolated from other specimens accounted low rate. Surgical infection induced E.coli was high sensitivity with netilmycine, amikacine, cefotaxime, gentamicine, norfloxacine and high resistance to ampicilline, co-trimoxazol, chloramphenicol and tetracycline.

To survey on the bacterial cause infected wound and the sensitiveness with antibiotic of isolate microbial strain at surgical department, Can tho General Hospital

Wound infection is one of the most important surgical infection and is a high percentage of hospital infection. In general surgical deparment at Can Tho General Hospital from 2001-2002, 110 samples of wound infection were isolated and tested antibiogram. Total of 133 microbial strains were isolated, multi infection is 19.09%, the highest of number of bacterial strain in a sample is 3. E. coli is the most common isolated (26.34%), Klebsiella sp 16.55%, Staphylococcus aureus: 9.78%. The result of antibiogram showed that among cocci gram positive group, lowest resistance antibiotic are vancomycin (6.24%), ciprofloxacin (55.3%); among bacilli negative group most of antibiotic tested were resistant in more than 50%, antibiotics nearly completely resistant were ampicillin (95.92%) and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (82.35%), amikacin (75.29%). For Pseudomonas, antibiotica are still good effect are ciprofloxacin (90%), colistin (80%). Pseudomonas are still reristant to other antibiotics (50-70%).

Antibiotics Resistance Analysis of Pathogens Causing Nosocomial Infections in Patients after Surgery / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of nosocomial infection(NI) in patients after surgical procedures and antimicrobial resistant change of pathogens. METHODS A total of 195 strains of pathogenic bacteria isolated from the samples after surgical procedures from Jan 2006 to Dec 2006 were analyzed by WalkAway-40 system with NC31 system. RESULTS Among the 195 strains of pathogenic bacteria,there were Gram-negative bacilli(74.4%) and Gram-positive cocci(25.6%).The dominating microorganisms were Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.The result showed that vancomycin and imipenem still had better activities to the bacteria. CONCLUSIONS Surgical incision infection should be monitored by some effective measures,and it is very important to prevent surgical infection and use antibiotics reasonably.

Infecção hospitalar em pacientes cirúrgicos de Hospital Universitário

OBJECTIVE: A study was accomplished in order to observe the infection incidence in patients operated in the Hospital Universitário-UFRN. METHODS: a prospective study was performed involving 3120 patients submitted to surgical procedures from january 1999 to october 2000. RESULTS: The nosocomial surgical infection ratio was 5,99%. Surgical wound infection was the most common (3,7%), followed by respiratory infection (1,2%), urinary (0,6%), intraabdominal (0,3%) and bacteremia (0,1%). The communitary infection ratio was 9,2%. From these, the urynary infection was the most common (5%), followed by respiratory (2,1%). Infection occured in 2,9% of 1479 clean wounds, 6% of 1277 clean-contaminated, 15,1% of contaminated and 30,7% of infected wounds. CONCLUSION: These data permit to conclude that the incidence of surgical infection is compatible with that observed in the world literature. So, it confirms the importance of the nosocomial infection control in a systematic way, as it has been accomplished in the studied hospital.

OBJETIVO: Analisar fatores intercorrentes e a incidência da infecção em pacientes operados no Hospital Universitário da UFRN. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados, através de protocolo previamente estabelecido, 3.120 pacientes internados que se submeteram a procedimentos cirúrgicos no período de janeiro de 1999 a outubro de 2002. RESULTADOS: O índice de infecção hospitalar foi de 5,9%, e a topografia de maior incidência foi a ferida operatória (3,7%). Infecção respiratória ocorreu em 1,2%, urinária em 0,6% e bacteremia em 0,1%. O índice de infecção comunitária foi de 9,2%, predominando infecção urinária (5%) e respiratória (2,1%). Quanto ao grau de contaminação das feridas operatórias, as feridas limpas (1479) apresentaram infecção em 2,9%, as feridas limpas-contaminadas (1277) em 6,0% dos casos, as feridas contaminadas (270) em 15,1%, e as ferida infectadas (94) resultaram em infecção em 30,75% dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: Concluiu-se que a incidência de infecção cirúrgica foi compatível com os índices na literatura mundial. A partir desses dados, ratifica-se a importância de medidas de controle de infecção hospitalar de forma sistemática, como vem sendo realizado no hospital onde o estudo foi realizado.

Controle de infecção em cirurgia geral: resultado de um estudo prospectivo de 23 anos e 42.274 cirurgias / Infection control in general surgery: results of a prospective study in 42, 274 surgeries during 23 years

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi de avaliar uma metodologia simples adotada há 23 anos em um hospital público universitário no controle das infecções pós-cirúrgicas. MÉTODO: A casuística estudada compreende um total de 42.274 cirurgias realizadas no Serviço de Cirurgia Geral do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) (janeiro de 1977 a dezembro de 1999). Os dados foram obtidos através um sistema de busca ativa de infecção e de um sistema de vigilância epidemiológica de seguimento pós-operatório, no ambulatório de egressos. A Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar (CCIH) do Hospital das Clínicas (HC) da UFPE concentrou sua atuação na prevenção, dando ênfase ao: diagnóstico preciso dos casos de infecção; higiene corporal; controle das afecções associadas; internamento pré-operatório; cuidados com tricotomia; anti-sepsia e assepsia; técnica cirúrgica adequada; divulgação dos resultados e da relação infecção/cirurgião/anestesista e rigoroso controle de antimicrobianos. RESULTADOS: A taxa de infecção de ferida passou de índices em torno de 15-20 por cento para os atuais 7,7 por cento. A infecção urinária foi reduzida de 18,2 por cento para 0,4 por cento, e a infecção respiratória de 22,9 por cento para 2,7 por cento. A mortalidade em decorrência de infecção foi reduzida de 2,8 por cento para os atuais 0,9 por cento e a taxa de infecção de ferida em cirurgia limpa de 12,8 por cento para 3,4 por cento. Na cirurgia ambulatorial, das 27.580 operações a taxa de infecção de ferida foi de 0,4 por cento e a mortalidade de 0,007 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: O que tentamos comprovar com a divulgação de nossos resultados é que controle de infecção se faz com decisão política, força de vontade e motivação em controlar o problema da infecção hospitalar.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was evaluate a methodology during 23 years in a public hospital used infection for control of surgeries. METHODS: A total of 42,274 surgeries in the General Surgery Division of the Clinics Hospital of the Pernambuco Federal University (January of 1977 until December 1999) were evaluated. The data were acquired through a active search system by the infection control nurse and an epidemiological search during the postoperative period, in the outpatient clinic that centralized all surgical patients after discharge. The infection control committee concentrated its action in the prevention emphasizing precise diagnosis of infections cases; corporal cleaning, control of associated infection, minimal preoperative period, care with the shaving; rigorous asepsia and antisepsia; adequate surgical technique; notification of the infection control results and the infection/surgeon/anesthetist rates; and a rigorous antimicrobial control. RESULTS: Wound infection rate dropped from 15-20 percent to the actual rate of 7.7 percent. Urinary infection was reduced from 18.2 percent to 0.4 percent, and the respiratory infection from 22.9 percent to 2.7 percent. The mortality related to infection was reduced from 2.8 percent to 0.9 percent and the rate of wound infection in clean surgeries from 12.8 percent to 3.4 percent. In the outpatient surgeries (27,580) the wound infection was 0.4 percent and the global mortality was 0.007 percent. CONCLUSION: The authors demonstrated that infection control is not made by expensive investments and equipaments, or computadorized ambient. Infection control is made, in our view, by political decision, manpower and motivation to control the infection control problem.