Nosocomial infections in a thirteen-bed critical care unit in Matinique: epidemiology and cost analysis - abstract

ABSTRACT

The aim of our study was to analyse the problems caused by nosocomial infections (NI) in our intensive care unit (ICU). 239 patients admitted between January and June 1995 were included in the study. 33 episodes of nosocomial infection were diagnosed in 19 patients (7.9 percent). The overall incidence of NI was 13.9 percent. Lower respiratory tract infections were the most common (6.3 percent). Patients infected on admission to the ICU had more NI than other patients (odds ratio = 3.42, 95 percent confidence interval 3.28 - 4.52, p< 0.05). Gram negative bacteria were involved in 73.2 percent of NI. Acinetobacter baumanii and Peudomonas aeruginosa were responsible, respectively, for 22.4 percent and 25.4 percent of NI. The additional cost due to NI was 33 percent for laboratory investigations and 34 percent for antibiotics. After analysis of our results, our recommendations are a cautious use of antibiotics, more efficient diagnostic tools and particular care in preventing cross contamination of our mostly severely ill or infected patients. (AU)