The incidence of nosocomial bacteremia acquired during short-term hospital stays is 0.60 per 1,000 patient-days. - Catheters (21.5%) and urinary tract infections (19.6%) are the most common sources of infection. - The predominant pathogens are S. aureus (20.7%), E. coli (18.2%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (16.3%). - The frequency of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is 40.0%, and in Staphylococcus epidermidis, 67.5%. - The frequency of deaths, regardless of cause, occurring within seven days of the onset of the episodes is 13.2%. (R.A.)