Healthcare-associated infections in a newly opened intensive care unit

Background. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common complications in ICU patients due to high invasive device utilization rates. The aim of the study was to analyse the epidemiology of ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs), blood stream infections (BSIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs) in a newly opened medical-surgical intensive care unit. Methods. Based on the CDC criteria, the Infection Control Team detected and recorded VAP, BSI, UTI and SSI cases over a 12-month period following the opening of a new ICU. Results. HAIs were diagnosed in 44 out of 168 patients (26%). The ventilator utilization was 72%. The incidence density of VAP was 15.5/1000 ventilator days. The central line utilization was 100%. The BSI rate was 5/1000 catheter-line days. The urinary catheter utilization was 95%. The UTI rate was 1.9/1000 catheterization days. SSIs occurred in 8 out of 60 surgical patients (13%). The most common isolates were Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions. The incidence of VAP was found to be higher than the mean rates reported from the USA and Western Europe yet similar to those in the developing countries. BSI and UTI rates were comparable to those given in NNIS and HELICS reports. Effective prevention strategies should be introduced in order to reduce high VAP rates.