Validation of surveillance in the intensive care unit component of the German nosocomial infections surveillance system

A validation study was performed for the intensive care unit component of the German nosocomial infections surveillance system ( Krankenhaus Infektions Surveillance System [ KISS]). A total of 286 reported infections and 1,195 medical records with no reported infection from 20 randomly selected KISS intensive care units were reviewed by trained physicians. The mean sensitivity was 66% ( median, 81%), and the mean specificity was 99.4% ( median, 99.6%).