A systematic approach used in healthcare facilities to monitor and track healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and other infectious diseases. ISS aims to collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends, outbreaks, and areas for improvement in infection prevention and control.
Infections that occur as a result of receiving medical care in a healthcare setting, such as hospitals or nursing homes. HAIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other pathogens and can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality, and additional healthcare costs.
Information collected through systematic monitoring and observation of healthcare-associated infections, including patient demographics, infection types, causative pathogens, and associated risk factors.
The frequency or rate at which new cases of healthcare-associated infections occur within a defined population over a specific period, usually expressed as cases per unit of population or unit of patient-days.
The proportion of individuals within a population who have a particular healthcare-associated infection at a specific point in time, often expressed as a percentage.
The process of identifying and investigating a sudden increase in the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections within a healthcare facility or community. Outbreak investigations involve epidemiological and microbiological analyses to determine the source, transmission route, and control measures.
The ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, to resist the effects of antimicrobial medications, leading to treatment failure and increased healthcare-associated infections. ISS monitors patterns of antimicrobial resistance to guide antibiotic stewardship efforts.
A measure used to compare the observed number of healthcare-associated infections in a facility with the expected number, based on national baseline data. SIR helps to assess the effectiveness of infection prevention and control efforts and identify facilities with higher or lower infection rates than expected.
Measures and practices implemented to prevent the transmission of infections within healthcare settings, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, use of personal protective equipment, and adherence to infection control protocols.
Processes and procedures implemented to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of surveillance data collected within an infection surveillance system. Data quality assurance activities include validation checks, data audits, and continuous training of surveillance personnel.