Quarterly Epidemiological Data on Healthcare Associated Infections
Data and Resources
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Quarterly Epidemiological DataCSV
Quarterly statistics for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI),...
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | Case data sources: Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS) and ECOSS Enhanced Surveillance Web Tool Data linkage source: General / Acute Inpatient and Day Case Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR01) Healthcare associated denominator: Total occupied bed days: Information Services Division ISD(S)1 Community associated denominator: National Records of Scotland (NRS) mid-year population estimates Surgical Site Infection cases and procedures: Surgical Site Infection Reporting System (SSIRS) |
| Author | ARHAI Scotland |
| Maintainer | ARHAI Scotland Data and Intelligence Team |
| Last Updated | April 8, 2025, 13:39 (BST) |
| Created | February 5, 2020, 15:12 (GMT) |
| Contact Address | ARHAI Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Delta House, 50 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G1 2NP |
| Subject | Infections in Scotland |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Time frame of data and timeliness | The latest iteration of data is three months in arrears upon publication. |
| Coverage | NHS Scotland |
| Completeness | ECB/SAB: Surveillance data are collected using an ECOSS Surveillance Web Tool that allows data collectors in NHS boards to validate ECOSS records as well as add additional cases that may not be included in the ECOSS system. This therefore means that completeness is near to 100%. Only cases reviewed in the enhanced surveillance are included in this publication. CDI: Diagnosis of CDI is confirmed in a patient who is both symptomatic with diarrhoea and whose stool has tested positive for C. difficile toxin using the diagnostic algorithm outlined in the C. difficile testing algorithm (https://www.nn.nhs.scot/smvn/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2024/07/NSD610-023.01-SMVN-Review-of-Clostridioides-difficile-diagnostic-testing-in-NHS-Scotland.pdf) published by the Scottish Microbiology and Virology Network in 2024. Origin of infections are assigned using a combination of NHS board validation and data linkage with national hospital activity registers (Protocol for the Scottish Surveillance Programme for Clostridioides difficile infection: user manual | National Services Scotland https://www.nss.nhs.scot/publications/protocol-for-the-scottish-surveillance-programme-for-clostridioides-difficile-infection-user-manual/). As with most surveillance programmes, completeness will not be 100% but mandatory surveillance methodology ensures this is as near to 100% as practically possible. CDI Ribotyping: The snapshot programme (Protocol for the Clostridioides difficile snapshot programme | National Services Scotland https://www.nss.nhs.scot/publications/protocol-for-the-clostridioides-difficile-snapshot-programme/) aims to obtain a representative sample of isolates from CDI cases across all NHS boards in Scotland, but this cannot always be achieved, therefore the data should be interpreted with caution. The clinical typing scheme aims to provide data from severe CDI cases and/or suspected outbreaks. These data are based on the specimens and information received by the reference laboratory and are not validated by individual NHS boards for completeness, therefore, the data should be interpreted with caution. SSI: Surveillance coordinators are responsible for completeness and accuracy of data. At hospital level, processes are in placed to ensure all patients included in the standard surveillance have had forms completed (e.g. cross checking with admission or theatre list). ARHAI Scotland also compare SSIRS data with data from ISD to a make sure all procedures under surveillance have been included; however, this comparison is only done annually. |
| Accuracy | CDI, ECB and SAB data are the product of the Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS). Participating laboratories routinely report all identifications of organisms, infection or microbiological intoxication, unless they are known to be of no clinical or public health importance. The collected data are used for; the identification of single cases of severe disease, outbreaks, and longer term trends in the incidence of laboratory reported infections enhanced surveillance, health protection, analytical and statistical use. Delays in SMR01 data availability at the time of report production means that some CDI cases may be reassigned at a later date. Therefore, healthcare-associated and community-associated CDI cases in this report are provisional and may change as more data becomes available. The enhanced ECB and SAB ECOSS web tool has built-in validation rules that have to be met before the data are submitted. Further checks of the data are made by ARHAI Scotland before the data are analysed. CDI validation of collected data entails sending a list of CDI cases extracted from ECOSS and asking for confirmation that the cases represent true CDI cases, i.e., meet the case definition which is defined in the surveillance protocol sent to all the NHS boards and available on the ARHAI Scotland website. The final list of CDI cases is then agreed before publishing. SSI data comes from the Surgical Site Infection Reporting System (SSIRS). Complying with a national minimum dataset and definitions for Surgical Site Infections, enables the data submitted to ARHAI Scotland to be mapped into the national dataset following a rigorous quality assurance process. SSIRS has built-in validation rules and data cannot be submitted until rules are met. SSIRS primary validation checks for incomplete or ambiguous core data fields, for example, if presentation to the surgery is ’emergency’ the OPCS code should correspond. Secondary validation includes data checks that can be accepted without completion and/or values that are outside the stated requirements. |
| Continuity of data | Quarterly as at March, June, September, December. Please note data on Surgical Site Infections are not available from 2020, as surveillance of Surgical Site Infection was paused from 2020 Q1 onwards due to COVID-19. |
| Concepts and definitions | Please refer to the methods and caveats document https://www.nss.nhs.scot/publications/quarterly-epidemiological-commentary-for-the-surveillance-of-healthcare-associated-infections-in-scotland-methods-caveats/ |
| Disclosure | The PHS protocol on Statistical Disclosure Protocol is followed. |
| Revision statement | These data are not subject to planned major revisions. However, the data collection sources are live databases and may be subject to updates and amendments as further information is submitted by the health boards. |
| Official statistics designation | Official Statistics |
| Relevance and key uses of the statistics | These data are used to produce the Quarterly Epidemiological Commentary for the Surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections in Scotland. Surveillance data are essential for monitoring trends and assisting in outbreak investigations. The surveillance data should inform and support NHS health boards in controlling and reducing the burden of healthcare associated infections. |
| Format | csv |
| Language | English |
| Links |