Temporal trends in septicemia in a community hospital
Article Abstract:
Nosocomial infections (infections acquired during hospitalization) are an important health concern because they increase the degree of illness, the length of time spent in the hospital, and the cost to the patient. Septicemia is a type of infection that occurs when microorganisms grow and multiply in the blood. During the last decade, the incidence of septicemia in hospitals has more than doubled. The greatest increase in the incidence of septicemia occurred in patients over the age of 65. In an attempt to explain why there has been such a dramatic increase in nosocomial septicemia, the results of all blood culture tests performed between 1973 and 1987 in a community hospital in Madison, Wisconsin were reviewed. The incidence of septicemia increased from 34 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions in 1973 to 103 cases per 10,000 admissions in 1987. During this time, the use of blood culture tests increased from 1 test performed for every 10 patients in 1973 to 1 test performed for every 3 patients in 1987. Between 1973 and 1987, the percentage of patients in the Medicare age group increased by 9 percent, and the incidence of septicemia in this age group increased by 22 percent. Over the entire study period, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common causes of septicemia. It is concluded that the increase in the incidence of septicemia may be explained, at least in part, by a concomitant increase in the number of blood culture tests that are performed (allowing more cases of septicemia to be identified), an increase in the number of elderly patients admitted to the hospital, and increasing severity of patient illnesses. Other studies have reported that the increased incidence of septicemia may be related to an increase in the prevalence of microorganisms that cause septicemia. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0002-9343
Year: 1991
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Hospital readmissions and quality of care
Article Abstract:
In the June 1991 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, Frankl et al. report that 28 of 318 hospital readmissions could have been prevented if their previous care had been better. This study used hospital admissions to evaluate quality of care. Although this variable (number of readmissions) is useful in evaluating hospital care, it also possesses a limitation. Quality problems for those readmitted were found in 9 percent of cases. However, these cases only represented 1 percent of all admissions for the period, and in fact about 90 percent of the 9 percent of all admissions were found to not have a quality problem. A more accurate study would need to examine those not readmitted who either did or did not receive the proper care. This study, although useful, does not give a complete picture on the quality of care given in the hospital. It is also unclear how these data relate to the total quality management (TQM) of the hospital. Further studies are required to determine the relationship between readmissions and quality of care. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0002-9343
Year: 1991
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