Bacterial Distribution and Risk Factors of Nosocomial Blood Stream Infection in Neurologic Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors and analyze the distribution of pathogens to provide a basis for the prevention of nosocomial blood stream infections (BSI) and reduce the incidence and mortality of nosocomial BSI in neurologic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of neurologic patients admitted to an adult intensive care unit from January 2012 to December 2017 was conducted. Every positive blood culture, clinical demographic, microbiologic and laboratory result, as well as 28-day outcome data, were compiled on a data collection sheet. The clinical significance of each isolate was determined; in addition, the antimicrobial susceptibilities of causative pathogens and the most likely source were recorded. RESULTS: During the five-year study period, there were 121 nosocomial BSI yielding 151 isolates in 404 neurologic patients. Eighty-one percent of nosocomial BSI were monomicrobial. Gram-positive organisms caused 67.9% of these BSI, gram-negative organisms caused 32.1%, and fungi caused 0.8%. The crude incidence rate was approximately 29.9%, and the mortality of nosocomial BSI was as high as 29.8%. Intravascular lines were the most common source of nosocomial BSI (79.3%). The most common organisms causing BSI were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 44.6% of isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (17.4%), Klebsiella species (11.5%), and Acinetobacter spp. (11.5%). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that the use of antibiotic agents in the 90 days prior (odds ratio [OR], 5.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.18-10.62; p = 0.001), brain trauma (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.15-0.51; p = 0.001), and transfusion (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.45-6.29; p = 0.001) were significant predictors of nosocomial BSI. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and mortality of nosocomial BSI were high in our neurologic patients. Strictly aseptic operations, hand hygiene, and reasonable use of transfusions and antibiotic agents are effective measures to prevent nosocomial BSI.

Epidemiology of blood stream infections at a level-1 trauma care center of India.

PURPOSE: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are one of the major life-threatening infections in hospitals. They are responsible for prolonged hospital stays, high healthcare costs, and significant mortality. The epidemiology of BSIs varies between hospitals necessitating analysis of local trends. Few studies are available on trauma patients, who are predisposed due to the presence of multiple invasive devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective surveillance of all BSIs was done at a level 1 trauma center from April, 2011 to March, 2012. All patients admitted to the different trauma intensive care units (ICUs) were monitored daily by attending physicians for subsequent development of nosocomial BSI. An episode of BSI was identified when patients presented with one or more of the following signs/symptoms, that is, fever, hypothermia, chills, or hypotension and at least one or more blood culture samples demonstrated growth of pathogenic bacteria. BSIs were further divided into primary and secondary BSIs as per the definitions of Center for Disease Control and Prevention. All patients developing nosocomial BSIs were followed till their final outcome. RESULTS: A total of 296 episodes of nosocomial BSIs were observed in 240 patients. A source of BSI was identified in 155 (52%) episodes. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was the most common source of secondary BSI. The most common organism was Acinetobacter sp. (21.5%). Candida sp. accounted for 12% of all blood stream organisms. A high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed in Gram-negative and-positive pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma patients had a high prevalence of BSIs. Since secondary bacteremia was more common, a targeted approach to prevention of individual infections would help in reducing the burden of BSIs.