The nosocomial component of medical care. A prospective study on the amount, spectrum and costs of medical disturbances in a department of infectious diseases.

During a nine month period all patients admitted to a department of infectious diseases were prospectively studied regarding nosocomial reactions defined as any unwanted or unexpected negative effect of medical treatment or care. Eleven percent of 1271 patients were admitted because of complications to previous medical treatment. Twenty-seven percent of the patients developed adverse reactions during the hospital stay. Only four percent of these resulted in a prolonged hospital stay. Six patients (0.5%) died from complications to medical care. We deduce that medical complications are not a major factor in prolonging hospital stay, but rather that the longer the hospital stay the greater the risk for developing nosocomial symptoms. The estimated cost for the whole of the nosocomial matter was seventeen percent of the budget of the department.