Resumo

BRENNER F., POLA; NERCELLES M., PATRICIO; POHLENZ A., MÓNICA  e  OTAIZA O., FERNANDO. Cost of nosocomial infections in Chilean hospitals. Rev. chil. infectol. [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.4, pp. 285-290. ISSN 0716-1018.  doi: 10.4067/S0716-10182003000400010.

This paper exhibits the results of 34 cost studies for nosocomial urinary tract infections, wound infections, endometritis, pneumonia, bloodstream infections and caesarean wound infections, conducted in 24 high and medium complexity hospitals in Chile using PAHO (Panamerican Health Organization) proposed methodology: patients with nosocomial infections (NI) were compared with patients without NI of equal sex, age, pathology and clinical unit in hospitals with high and medium complexity compared themselves. The length of stay (LOS) and the use of antimicrobial in DDD were compared in both groups. Conclusion: All studies showed that NI increased length of stay and use of antimicrobial between 2 to 4 times. Wound infections and bloodstream infections increased the LOS more than other NI. Wound infections and pneumonia increased antimicrobial use more than other NI. There were no relevant differences depending on the type of hospitals. The bigger variability was observed in wound infections due probably to the difference in surgical procedures included in the study.

Palavras-chave : Nosocomial infection; Hospital infections; Hospital infection cost.