OBJECTIVE To summarize the key points for design of case-control study, analyze the data and summarize the specifications so as to raise the quality of related clinical research on hospital-acquired infections.

METHODS The types for design of the case-control study were systematically summarized based on the characteristics of hospital-acquired infection data with strong timeliness and various confounding factors. The design, data clearance and statistical analysis method were studied by analysis of typical cases, the common types for design of the case-control study and the key points of design were listed, and the specifications for report of the result of case-control study based on the clinical problems about hospital-acquired infections were summed up.

RESULTS By starting from the key points for the design of the case-control study, the design framework of the study that contained three core elements was established based on the characteristics of related research on hospital-acquired infections, the three core elements were as follows: clarifying the temporal logic of exposure, developing strategies for the control of confounding factors, selecting appropriate statistical models. Meanwhile, the reporting specifications were formulated to achieve the methodological transparency.

CONCLUSION Clarifying the key points for design of the case-control study and the specifications for report of results can improve the quality of clinical research on case-control design for hospital-acquired infection cases and boost the scientificity and feasibility.