COULD AN ISOLATION WARD REDUCE THE RATE OF NOSOCOMIAL TRANSMISSION OF MULTIRESISTANT BACTERIA

To prevent nosocomial transmission (NT) of multiresistent germs (MRG) the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends to isolate patients with MRG.At a so-called normal ward isolating patients is a challenging and stressful procedure for both patients and hospital staff.The present study proposes the hypothesis that, compared to normal wards, an isolation ward reduces the nosocomial infection rate.After an isolation ward with twelve beds has been established in 2005, patients with MRG on the wards of the department for spinal cord injury as well as on the isolation ward were monitored using a prospective screening and meeting the requirements of the RKI. Apart from detecting transmitter of MRG the NT of these bacteria was identified and registered between 2006 and 2013.The total length of a patients stay in the hospital, the number of isolation days and the rate of NTs were documented. The quotient of MRG load per ward and the number of NTs per ward were compared.In the investigation period of eight yea...