To understand the impact of SARS control on nosocomial infection, we compared the incidence of nosocomial infection in a medical center from May to July in 2003 (SARS period) to that in the previous and the following year. There were 366 and 328 and 476 nosocomial infection patients in 14298 and 9922 and 16362 admission patients in 2002 to 2003 respectively during that period. The infection rate before and after SARS outbreak was 2.56% and 2.91%. The infection rate during SARS outbreak was 3.31%. The difference between the rate before and after SARS outbreak respectively with the rate during SARS outbreak were significant (p<0.01); urinary tract infection was the most common infection. S.aureus was the most common agent before and after SARS outbreak and the P.aeruginosa was the most common agent during SARS outbreak. The management during SARS break was very meaningful. The prevention principle such as washing hands should be encouraged to avoid nosocomial infection.
To understand the impact of SARS control on nosocomial infection, we compared the incidence of nosocomial infection in a medical center from May to July in 2003 (SARS period) to that in the previous and the following year. There were 366 and 328 and 476 nosocomial infection patients in 14298 and 9922 and 16362 admission patients in 2002 to 2003 respectively during that period. The infection rate before and after SARS outbreak was 2.56% and 2.91%. The infection rate during SARS outbreak was 3.31%. The difference between the rate before and after SARS outbreak respectively with the rate during SARS outbreak were significant (p<0.01); urinary tract infection was the most common infection. S.aureus was the most common agent before and after SARS outbreak and the P.aeruginosa was the most common agent during SARS outbreak. The management during SARS break was very meaningful. The prevention principle such as washing hands should be encouraged to avoid nosocomial infection.