• Milosevic, Ivana
• Jovanovic, Milica
• Milosevic, Branko
• Jevtovic, Djordje
• Pavlovic, Milorad
• Dulovic, Olga
• Korac, Milos

Abstract

<jats:p>Bacground/Aim. Nosocomial infections (NIs) are an important cause ofmorbidity, mortality and prolonged hospitalizations. Fifty percent of NIshave been reported in Intensive Care Units. The aim of this study was todetermine the frequency and type of NIs among critically ill patientstreated in the University Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases,Clinical Centre of Serbia, as well as risk factors for acquiring them.Methods. This prospective cohort study included 52 patients treated in theIntensive Care Unit from January to June 2004. The diagnosis of NI wasestablished according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) definition, based on clinical presentation, radiological andmicrobiological findings, etc. Statistical data processing was done by usingthe electronic data base organized in SPSS for Windows version 10.0. Thelevel of statistical significance was defined as p &lt; 0. 05. Results. NIswere found in 33 (63.4%) of 52 inpatients. Urinary tract infections (UTIs),pneumonia, and soft tissue infections, the most common nosocomial infectionsin our setting, were recorded in 41.0%, 25.6%, and 23.1%, of patients,respectively. Several factors contributed to a high incidence of theseinfections: chronic comorbidities (p &lt; 0.01), the presence of indwellingdevices such as urinary tract catheters (p &lt; 0.01), endotracheal tubes (p &lt;0.05) along with mechanical ventilation (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion. The majorityof patients with NIs had chronic underlying comorbidities. All the patientswith UTIs had urinary catheters. The most important risk factors for thedevelopment of nosocomial pneumonias were endotracheal intubation andmechanical ventilation. The patients with pneumonia had the highestmortality.</jats:p>

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