Decreasing Trend of Surgical Site Infections among Surgical Patients in a University Hospital in Thailand after an Active Surveillance Program.

Reports from high-quality healthcare systems have shown that active surveillance and management of factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) decreased the incidence and improved overall outcomes. This study aimed to appraise the incidence trend of SSIs during the 10-year period between 2007 and 2016 in a university hospital in a middle-income country, focusing on six high-risk and high-volume procedures. The study also examined factors associated with SSIs and their impact on surgical outcomes.

An outbreak of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii at Songklanagarind Hospital: the risk factors and patient prognosis.

Objective: To investigate for the factors associated with acquisition of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (IRAB) at Songklanagarind Hospital and the subsequent patient mortality outcome.

Design: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for IRAB acquisition using imipenem-sensitive A. baumannii (ISAB) as controls.

Extra charge and extra length of postoperative stay attributable to surgical site infection in six selected operations.

Background: Information concerning the economic impact of surgical site infection (SSI) is very rare in Thailand. As the national health care financial system has been changing, the need for such data is critical.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to estimate the extra charge and excess postoperative hospitalization attributable to SSI in six surgical operative procedures comprising appendectomy, herniorrhaphy, mastectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and craniotomy.

Device-associated infections and patterns of antimicrobial resistance in a medical-surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital in Thailand.

Background: Surveillance of nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) received a high level of attention and outcome indicators are now used in benchmarking the quality of patient care. Since 1999 the surveillance has targeted three site-specific, device-associated infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central-line-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI), and catheter-related urinary tract infection (CR-UTI). The authors conducted a two-year prospective study on the incidences of these infections acquired in an ICU and report herein, together with the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the microorganisms isolated in an ICU.