Definition Recognition Among Taiwan Nosocomial Infections Surveillance(TNIS) System Hospitals

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20160105.32(1).001

Yu-Tsang Wang^1,2, Chiu-Hsia Su^1,3, Li-Jung Chien¹, Shan-Chwen Chang^{4, 5}, Shu-Hui Tseng^1＊

2016 Vol.32 NO.1

Correspondence Author： Shu-Hui Tseng^1＊

Abstract：

Hospitals in Taiwan have routinely conducted surveillance on healthcare-associated infections(HAIs) for years. In this article, we introduced the timeline of changes in HAI definitions, presented results of a survey conducted in 2012, and described the mistakes usually occurred in medical centers and regional hospitals in defining a patient as device-associated infection case or counting device-days. The results demonstrated that 79%, 83% and 76% hospitals identified central line-associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia,and catheter-associated urinary tract infection(CAUTI) cases respectively based on the criteria conformed to Taiwan Nosocomial Infections Surveillance(TNIS) definition. The most common inconsistency found is to classify a CLABSI case relying on tip culture result, and to count device-days according to the number of central lines on patients. This survey provided useful information for developing strategies in surveillance refinement and data quality improvement.