[Survey of nosocomial infection prevalence in the surgery department of the Central National Hospital of Ouagadougou].

The objective of this study is to collect preliminary epidemiologic data about nosocomial infections (NI) in the National Hospital of Ouagadougou. A prevalence survey of NI was realized in surgical wards (116 patients). All hospitalized patients were included, excepted those stayed less than 48 hours. Using the definitions of the "Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique de France", the nosocomial infections studied were surgical wards, pneumonia and urinary tract infection. The result showed that 19 patients (16.4%) had 26 nosocomial infections (prévalence: 22.4%). Six patients had at least 2 nosocomial infections. The infection rate increases with operation, debilated preoperative physical statute, and invasive care. The average increasing of duration of hospital stay for infected patients was 10 days. This data confirm the importance of nosocomial infections and emphasize the need of surveillance and control of nosocomial infections. But deeper epidemiological studies must be undertaken before.