Nosocomial infection, length of stay, and time-dependent bias

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009 Mar;30(3):273-6. doi: 10.1086/596020.

Abstract

Nosocomial pneumonia and its impact on length of stay are major healthcare concerns. From an epidemiological perspective, nosocomial pneumonia is a time-dependent event. Any statistical analysis that does not explicitly model this time dependency will be biased. The bias is not redeemed by adjusting for baseline information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bias
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay* / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors*