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Post-discharge surveillance of surgical site infections in teaching hospitals in Brazil

Vigilância pós-alta hospitalar das infecções do sítio cirúrgico em hospitais universitários do Brasil

Vigilancia post alta hospitalaria de las infecciones del sitio quirúrgico en hospitales universitarios de Brasil

Abstract

Objective:

Understanding the reality of surgical site infections post-discharge surveillance in Brazilian teaching hospitals.

Method:

A cross-sectional study conducted by sending an online questionnaire to nurses from the Hospital Infection Control Committee of Brazilian teaching hospitals registered in the National Registry of Health Establishments.

Results:

Of the 193 teaching hospitals in Brazil, eight declined to take part as they did not conduct post-discharge surveillance and 36 did not respond. Twenty five of the remaining 149 hospitals provided detailed responses and 96% of responding institutions performed surgical site infection surveillance during hospitalization; active search (29.3%) was the main method, while 84% reported performing post-discharge surveillance mainly by telephone (42.8%). Both surveillance actions have nurses as the main responsible professionals.

Conclusion:

Nurses play a prominent role in surgical site infection identification/screening actions, and active search during hospitalization allied with post-discharge surveillance by telephone were the preferred methods.

Descriptors:
Surgical Wound Infection; Patient Discharge; Surveillance; Nursing Care; Hospitals, Teaching

Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419 , 05403-000 São Paulo - SP/ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 3061-7553, - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: reeusp@usp.br