A prevalence survey of nosocomial infection in a Brazilian hospital

A study to determine the prevalence of hospital-acquired infection was undertaken in the Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre Hospital in Brazil. The study was carried out in selected clinical areas of the hospital over a one-year period from 1987 to 1988. Of 397 patients surveyed, infections were present in 168 (42·3%); 53 (13·4%) were hospital acquired and 115 (29%) community acquired. The commonest infections involved the lower respiratory tract (30%), bacteraemias (24·4%) and the urinary tract (10%). A high prevalence of infection was encountered in the intensive care units.