Intrahospital infection surveillance system in Cuba

OBJECTIVE: to highlight the importance of the surveillance and control of intrahospital infections. DEVELOPMENT: the antecedents of the epidemiological surveillance system in the world, as well as the characteristics of the main designs were exposed. The cuban epidemiological surveillance system that began in 1983 by collecting data of the hospitals with more than 100 beds was also described. Other aspects, such as updating, methodology, definitions, objectives, premises and proposals of future improvements in the system were Revista Cubana de Higiene y Epidemiologia ISSN Impreso: 0253-1751 Numero 1, Vol. 46, enero abril 2008 Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiologia y Microbiologia, Cuba. dealt with. Likewise, considerations were made on the surveillance systems of these infections in other countries. CONCLUSIONS: the surveillance system by incidence of intrahospital infections in the country is well structured and fulfils its objectives. It should be performed with the frequency required to attain a level of efficiency according to the needs of the national health system.