caa a22 4500 388032642 CHVBK 20180307124956.0 cr unu---uuuuu 161130e199809 xx s 000 0 eng 10.1086/501600 doi S0195941700005877 pii (NATIONALLICENCE)cambridge-10.1086/501600 Importance of the Surveillance Method: National Prevalence Studies on Nosocomial Infections and the Limits of Comparison [Elektronische Daten] Abstract Objective: To demonstrate the limits of comparison of national prevalence rates of nosocomial infections. Design and Setting: Critical analysis of prevalence rates and methods of the Nosocomial Infections in Germany (NIDEP) study and other prevalence surveys with particular attention to the selection of patients, the qualification and training of the investigators, and the methods of identifying nosocomial infections. Results: The lowest prevalence rate was found in Germany (3.5 %), the highest in Belgium (9.3 %). These differences may not be accurate, because variations in methods allow for differing explanations. Conclusions: Because of numerous methodological factors, comparison of infection rates between countries should be avoided. In contrast to other prevalence studies, the methodology of the German-NIDEP study permits registration of only certain infections, which is the main reason for the low rate. Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998 Gastmeier Petra Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany Kampf Günter Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany Wischnewski Nicoletta Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany Schumacher Martin Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany Daschner Franz Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany Rüden Henning Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology Cambridge University Press 19/9(1998-09), 661-667 0899-823X 19:9<661 1998 19 ICE https://doi.org/10.1086/501600 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1086/501600 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Gastmeier Petra Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Kampf Günter Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Wischnewski Nicoletta Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Schumacher Martin Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Daschner Franz Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Rüden Henning Institute of Hygiene, Free University, Berlin, Germany NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology Cambridge University Press 19/9(1998-09), 661-667 0899-823X 19:9<661 1998 19 ICE CC0 http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0 nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-cambridge