Nonincreased risk of nosocomial infection during a 22-day housekeeping personnel strike in a tertiary hospital.

Abstract

From April 2-23, 1992, the housekeeping staff of the University of Granada Hospital was on strike. Measures were implemented to minimize the effects of the strike on patients' health and especially to diminish the risk of hospital infection. To assess the risk of nosocomial infection during the housekeeping personnel strike. An 800-bed, tertiary care hospital. A case-cohort approach was used. One hundred forty-eight infected patients (with 184 hospital infections) were detected prospectively from March 1, 1992, to May 31, 1992. A sample of 459 of the base population (patients admitted during the same period) was selected. Information on relevant risk factors for hospital infection was abstracted from patients' clinical charts after hospital discharge. Crude odds ratios and adjusted (by proportional hazards model) relative risks (RRs) for the strike period were estimated. Risk of nosocomial infection did not increase during the strike period (multiple-risk factor adjusted RR = 0.99, 0.96 to 1.01/day of strike). Similar results were observed for major sites of infection (especially surgical wound) and major areas of the hospital (including gynecology, surgery, and intensive care). We concluded that there was no increase in the risk of nosocomial infection during the housekeeping strike.