Outbreaks of nosocomial infections in Poland in the years 2011-2015

INTRODUCTION: In hospitals outbreaks of nosocomial infections are recorded i.e. the occurrence of at least two clearly related cases of infections. In these outbreaks not only patients but also hospital staff are getting infected. Due to the fact, that nosocomial infections are inseparably related to the hospitalisation of the patients, there is a need to build a culture of active surveillance of emerging infections and their reporting to the authorities of the State Sanitary Inspection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This article was developed on the basis of the information gathered in the report about the occurrence of outbreaks in entities carrying out the medical activities. This report is the result of the analysis of the preliminary reports submitted by the hospitals in the cases where there was a suspicion of or an epidemic outbreak and the final reports of the epidemic outbreak suppressions. RESULTS: In the years 2011-2015 in all hospitals in Poland a total number of 1 912 outbreaks of nosocomial infections was reported; in those outbreaks 15 282 patients and 1 226 medical personnel were infected. The biggest numbers of outbreaks of nosocomial infections were reported in the voivodeships: Masovia and Silesia. The most frequently etiological factor was Clostridium difficile; it caused 519 hospital outbreaks. Out of the viral factors, most of the outbreaks were due to the rotavirus - 359 of such instances. In addition to the numerous bacterial and viral factors, the outbreaks of nosocomial infections were also caused by fungi and parasites.