Background and objective:
Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) are infections developed in a hospital or other health care facility, that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care. It’s estimated that among all hospitalized patients, about 7% for high-income countries and about 15% for low-middle income countries contract a HCAI. Among the main causes of HCAIs there are the so-called Alert Microorganisms, intended as different species with a high probability of diffusion in hospital settings, often combined with a problematic therapeutic approach or antibiotic resistance. The objective of our study was to describe the protocol applied in the setting of AOU “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona” of Salerno in order to evaluate its efficiency in reducing cases of infections.

Methods:
Protocol “Alert Microorganisms Procedure: Surveillance, Monitoring And Prevention Of Health Care Associated Infections”, applied in AOU “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aaragona” of Salerno; Alert Microorganisms detection form, filled by the doctor and/or the head nurse of the interested Department; HCAI Surveillance evaluation form, filled by the HCAI-supervising doctor, in order to evaluate the progression and/or new cases of contamination/infection.

Results:
Gram-negative and fungi were the most common identified pathogens. Patiens have been isolated in a single room and treated with personal-use devices and specific therapy. When single room was not avaiable, patients’ bed were placed 1,5m away from other patients, even with screens or dividers

Conclusion:
The Surveillance of Alert Microorganisms allowed us to define protocols to manage and monitor HCAIs and identify areas that need to be improved. The continuous and correct application of the protocol may lead in the future to a significant reduction of the risk for patients to contract HCAIs