Development of infection control surveillance system for intensive care unit: Data requirements and guidelines

Abstract

Surveillance systems are useful in the identification of patients that contract infections during their hospitalization period. Despite still being at infancy, electronic information control surveillance systems for Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) are improving and becoming more commonplace as the acceptance levels rise. There are crucial gaps in existing knowledge concerning the best ways for implementing electronic surveillance systems especially in the context of the Intens ive Care Unit (ICU). To bridge this gap, the aim of this paper was to provide a comprehensive review of various electronic surveillance approaches and to highlight the requisite data components and offer guidelines. This review revealed denominator, numerator, and discrete data requirements and guidelines for the surveillance of four main ICU HAIs, including Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) and Ventilator-Associated Conditions/Events (VACs/VAEs).