600,000 hospital infections per year

Study investigates hospital infection at the University Hospital Jena

30.11.2012

Infections with hospital germs have been a major problem in German hospitals for years. Approximately 600,000 hospital patients per year, according to experts, suffer a corresponding infection. For the first time, a comprehensive study was carried out at the University Hospital Jena „the number of occurring hospital infections in an entire hospital over a longer period“ detected. Overall, the physicians collected and analyzed the data from just under 40,000 patients from twelve months (September 2011 to August 2012).

According to the University of Jena, previous data on annual hospital infections (nosocomial infections) were based exclusively on expert estimates, with the data being based on surveys of more than ten years, only those with a particularly high risk or individual cut-off dates. This results in a high uncertainty of the mentioned numbers of 600,000 and more hospital infections per year. This maladministration is to be remedied with the current study. By compiling data on all hospital treatments for one year, the study provides a reliable basis for the evaluation of prevention strategies, reports the University Hospital.

Wound infections, respiratory infections and blood poisoning are particularly common
The most common forms of hospital infections at the University Hospital of Jena were wound infections after surgery and respiratory infections. More than a quarter of the hospital infections suffered during the hospital stay in Jena go back to a bacterial infection in wounds. The respiratory tract infections account for an approximately equal share of the observed hospital infections. Patients also suffered from sepsis. According to the hospital, 4.3 percent of patients treated in the first six months of the study period had hospital infections. „This will allow us to confirm the previous expert estimates for German clinics and, for the first time, provide scientific proof“, the head of the study, Professor Dr. Frank Brunkhorst. About 15 percent of the infections to be recorded were caused, according to the latest results, by so-called clinical germs or multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Measures for the targeted prevention of hospital infections
With the compilation of the data from 27 normal wards and four intensive care units of the University Hospital Jena, the researchers have according to the intensive care and Sepsisexperten Prof. Brunkhorst „created the prerequisites for the next study phase, because without initial values, the effect of preventive measures can not be determined.“ The goal is now to implement appropriate measures to reduce the risk of infection and to review their success in the next year with a re-evaluation of all treatments. So would „In addition to the existing hygiene rules, measures are being developed for the targeted prevention of the most common hospital infections, such as wound or respiratory tract infections, which are tailored to the respective patient group and the processes in the clinic“, reports the university hospital. Particular consideration is given to patients under artificial respiration, with a bladder or vascular catheter and freshly operated patients, since a large proportion of hospital infections affect these groups of patients.

Preventive measures specific to risk patients
On the basis of the data obtained, the experts of the University Hospital Jena also want to formulate a more precise risk profile in order to be able to protect specific patient groups in a more targeted and effective manner. For example, it is known that with a „increasing number of elderly and chronically ill patients just in clinics of maximum care the proportion of patients with an increased risk of infection increases“, reports the hospital. It should „package of measures“ be laced, „which are also feasible in everyday life“, emphasized the study coordinator Stefan Hagel. Therefore, the most promising measures for the respective infections are currently being summarized. An example is the strictly aseptic attachment and the timely removal of venous catheters, to reduce the catheter-associated infections. the aim is, „To reduce the hospital infections at our hospital sustainably by 20 percent“, explained Prof. Brunkhorst.

The head of the National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections, calls the Jena proven detection and monitoring method for hospital infections as appropriate „Model for other hospitals.“, which could be used to „Review and validate internationally established surveillance definitions and methods.“ (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann