| Methods |
INICC, International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium, evolves from itinerant information work and training that started in the late 90s. |
A group of Latin American hospitals were pioneers of the application of this new methodology: the systematic collection of outcome and process surveillance data. |
Such was the origin of the current international data base, from which there appeared the possibility of establishing standards developed by INICC for countries with limited resources. |
| The cosmopolitan nature of INICC is reflected in its structure: Country Coordination, conducted by chairmen and board members of local scientific organizations, and an advisory Board of International Experts, who accompany the Chairman, composing a true scientific community. |
| At present, 500 researchers participate actively, reporting their measures from over 100 healthcare centers in 85 cities, from 30 countries of 4 continents. |
Data collected at each of these healthcare centers are sent on a monthly basis to the INICC Headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There the data are analyzed, and a detailed report is prepared, containing tables and graphics that reflect the following: |
 Global healthcare-associated infection rates per percentage and per 1000 bed days, as indicators of outcome surveillance.
Specific healthcare-associated infection rates per 1000 device days.
Reports on microbiological profile and bacterial resistance.
Extra mortality attributable to healthcare-associated infections.
Extra length of hospital stay for each type of healthcare-associated infection.
Extra cost analysis for each type of healthcare-associated infection.
Studies on cost-effectiveness of interventions and bio medical supplies.
Hand hygiene compliance, as an indicator of process surveillance.
Vascular and urinary catheter care.
Nosocomial pneumonia prevention.
Surgical site infection prevention. |
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Through the participation in this multicentric study, healthcare workers acquire new and useful tools to obtain improvements in infection control rates in each hospital, and thus reduce extended length of stay, attributable cost and mortality. In this way, the infection control team is able to analyze risk factors, which are useful to establish targeted measures. |
The information collected is integrated with the information from other centers, thus obtaining the possibility of designing useful and cost-effective interventions from a global/worldwide perspective. |
| Being part of a group research project, healthcare workers members of the INICC network become co-authors of multicentric studies that are presented in scientific meetings and published in international peer reviewed journals. |
Within these scientific activities, INICC has produced over 250 scientific papers, which were published in peer reviewed journals and specialized book chapters, and presented in scientific local and international meetings worldwide. |
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| Activities |
Healthcare Centers and Health Organizations |
Situation Diagnosis: by applying existing capacities in infrastructure and human resources, INICC evaluates the parameters for the design of a healthcare-associated infection control, prevention and treatment program.
Epidemiologic Program Design and Implementation, with monitoring and supervision of processes.
Training: INICC offers training in the application of tools to consolidate capacities locally, targeted specifically at doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ancillary staff and healthcare facilities’ administrators and managers in the private and public sectors.
Development and Adaptation of information technology tools: INICC is working on the design of the appropriate technology for the analysis of healthcare-associated infection process and outcome. |
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Healthcare Workers |
| Scientific Research Promotion: the application of INICC Epidemiologic Surveillance Program, the development of quantitative and qualitative research in healthcare centers individually and by means of multicentric research generating results that are useful and necessary for analysis and decision making. Additionally, the research is published in scientific media and presented in scientific events, such as international meetings and peer reviewed journals indexed in global databases, composing INICC’s services to the scientific community at large. |
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Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations |
| Public Health Consultancy Services: INICC develops, adapts and updates national and international healthcare-associated infection control guidelines, and regulations to adopt rational, cost-effective public health policies so as to improve performance in this sector. |
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Study on Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness of Bio Medical Supplies |
| INICC conducts and offers research studies on efficiency and cost-effectiveness of healthcare-associated infection reduction, analyzing vascular and urinary catheters, infusion systems, filters, devices contaminated with antimicrobials, antiseptics, antibiotics, medical supplies for bloodstream infection reduction, urinary catheters, devices for nosocomial pneumonia and surgical site infection prevention, both in current use or new; by means of the design of scientific research protocols and their development, coordination, management, analysis, publication and dissemination. |
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