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Infection Control in El Salvador: The Hospital Rosales Experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

José A. Marinero Càceres  and
Yolanda de Sotello
José A. Marinero Càceres
Affiliation:
Department de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de El Salvador, and the Departmento de Enfermeria, Hospital Rosales, San Salvador, El Salvador
Yolanda de Sotello
Affiliation:
Department de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de El Salvador, and the Departmento de Enfermeria, Hospital Rosales, San Salvador, El Salvador
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Abstract

We describe circumstances at the Hospital Rosales, located in San Salvador, El Salvador, and some salient observations from an infection control program begun in 1978. Findings include overuse of antibiotics, especially of penicillin and chloramphenicol; a predominance of gram-negative rod infections, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa; a relative infrequency of Staphylococcus aureus infections; an apparent doubling of the mean duration of hospitalization for patients with nosocomial infections compared with other patients (22.1 days versus 11.0 days); documentation and partial correction of deficiencies in aseptic and antiseptic practices; an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis traced to the hospital's factory for the manufacturing of intravenous fluids; and attitudinal problems such as the care of patients with rabies on open wards. Prevalence surveys conducted during 1981 and 1986 suggest a dramatic increase in the recent incidence of surgical wound infection (44% v 28%, P < 0.001). This latter observation suggests a direct relationship between infection rates and the hardships imposed by poverty and civil war.

Type
Special Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 8 , Issue 12 , December 1987 , pp. 495 - 500
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1987

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