National prevalence survey on hospital infections in Norway.

A nationwide prevalence survey was carried out in Norwegian hospitals (excluding mental hospitals) on 23 October 1997. The aim was to assess the magnitude of major hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) prior to the introduction of quarterly prevalence surveys in Norway as required by the new Regulations for Communicable Disease Control in Hospitals. The survey included 71 of 76 possible hospitals, and 12,775 patients. Altogether 779 HAIs were identified--a prevalence rate of 6.1%. Only the four major HAIs were included: urinary tract infection (36.4% of all HAIs); surgical wound infection (28.6%); lower respiratory tract infection (25.4%) and septicaemia (9.6%). Three thousand, three hundred and forty-nine patients had undergone surgery and the prevalence of surgical wound infection was 6.3%. The results form a baseline for the next step in Norweigan hospital infection control; the quarterly prevalence surveys.