Results of the Spanish national nosocomial infection surveillance network (VICONOS) for surgery patients from January 1997 through December 2003.

Background: In 1997, a national standardized surveillance system for nosocomial infections (NI) in surgery patients was established in Spain. This system, known as the VICONOS program, is based on the US National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNISS). Herein, we present a summary of the data collected from January 1997 to December 2003.

Methods: VICONOS actively monitors all patients referred to the surgery ward of each participating hospital. The criteria used to define surgical site infection (SSI), patient risk index category, and surgical procedures used are those established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the NNISS.

Results: SSI rates are shown by operative procedure and NNISS risk index category. Standardized infection ratios (SIR) were calculated for the 7 surgical procedures most frequently performed to compare our rates with those published by the NNISS. We provide factors that can be used as quality indicators such as rates of main surgery complications, length of hospital stay, and presurgery prophylaxis. Also described are the most used antimicrobial agents, the microorganisms most frequently isolated, and the corresponding sites.

Conclusion: VICONOS counts on the voluntary participation of 43 Spanish public hospitals. Our immediate plans are to incorporate new surveillance components and encourage new centers to join our network.