Preliminary analysis of the transmission dynamics of nosocomial infections: stochastic and management effects

doi:10.1053/jhin.1998.0647

Journal of Hospital Infection

Volume 43, Issue 2, October 1999, Pages 131-147

https://doi.org/10.1053/jhin.1998.0647 Get rights and content

Abstract

: A simple mathematical model is developed for the spread of hand-borne nosocomial pathogens such asStaphylococcus aureus within a general medical-surgical ward. In contrast to previous models a stochastic approach is used. Computer simulations are used to explore the properties of the model, and the results are presented in terms of the pathogen’s successful introduction rate, ward-level prevalence, and colonized patient-days, emphasizing the general effects of changes in management of patients and carers.

Small changes in the transmissibility of the organism resulted in large changes in all three measures. Even small increases in the frequency of effective handwashes were enough to bring endemic organisms under control. Reducing the number of colonized patients admitted to the ward was also an effective control measure across a wide range of different situations. Increasing surveillance activities had little effect on the successful introduction rate but gave an almost linear reduction in colonized patient-days and ward-level prevalence. Shorter lengths of patient stay were accompanied by higher successful introduction rates, but had little effect on the other measures unless the mean time before detection of a colonized individual was large compared to the mean length of stay.

We conclude that chance effects are likely to be amongst the most important factors in determining the course of an outbreak. Mathematical models can provide valuable insights into the non-linear interactions between a small number of processes, but for the very small populations found in hospital wards, a stochastic approach is essential.

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Regular ArticlePreliminary analysis of the transmission dynamics of nosocomial infections: stochastic and management effects

Abstract

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

Lancet

International Journal of Biomedical Computing

J Pediatrics

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

Am J Med

Lancet

J Hosp Infect

Lancet

Hospital-acquired infection: surveillance, policies, and practice

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep

Infectious diseases of humans: dynamics and control

Oxford: Oxford University Press,

Models for infectious human diseases: their structure and relation to data

Cambridge University Press,

The Mathematical Theory of Infectious Diseases

The mathematical theory of epidemics: a study of the evolution of resistance in microorganisms

Advances in Applied Probability

Modeling the spread of resistant nosocomial pathogens in an intensive-care unit

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

The transmission dynamics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria: the relationship between resistance in commensal organisms and antibiotic consumption

Proc R Soc Lond B

A causal link between handwashing and risk of infection? examination of the evidence

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

Hands as route of transmission for klebsiella species

BMJ

Regular Article
Preliminary analysis of the transmission dynamics of nosocomial infections: stochastic and management effects