Quality assurance and the role of infection control: a retrospective study of hospital-acquired infection in a District General Hospital based on three sites, 1978-1988.

A retrospective study of hospital-acquired infection surveillance data from 1978 to 1988 showed a reduction in the incidence rate from 7.6 to 3.9% respectively, while simultaneously there was a 25% increase in throughput of patients. The reduction in the incidence of hospital-acquired infection is considered to be multifactorial. Since the rates of infection appear to be significantly altered by staff awareness and infection control programmes, they could be used as an outcome measure to reflect the quality of care in hospitals.