Infecciones asociadas a la atención de salud en un Hospital de Oncología Brasile？o: análisis de cinco a？os

retrospective epidemiological study, carried out in 2009, to analyze healthcare-associated infection rates in cancer patients, according to infection site, lethality and data were collected from records filed at the institution's hospital infection control service (scih), between 2004 and 2008. the project was submitted and approved by the research ethics committee. regarding the healthcare infection rate, it was observed that 8.24% (5,821) of episodes occurred during the period. these rates ranged from 6.51% (1,017) in 2004 to 10.82% (1,790) in 2007, with a standard deviation of ± 1.91. regarding the number of patients with infection, a rate of 5.75% (4.064) was found, ranging from 4.89% (765) in 2004 to 7.47% (1,237) in 2007. the most affected sites were surgical site (26.11%), bloodstream (24.11%) and respiratory tract (18.50%). infection associated lethality and mortality rates corresponded to 23.86% and 1.37% of deaths, respectively. the multiple factors involved in this process need to be assessed, so that the institution can develop infection prevention and control strategies and can intervene timely.