Bacterial resistance and mortality in an intensive care unit

RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARY CATHETER-RELATED INFECTION IN PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS TREATMENT

ABSTRACTThis study aims to identify risk factors associated with temporary hemodialysis catheter-related infection, in patients on dialysis treatment in a teaching hospital. This is a prospective study performed from November of 2012 to May of 2013, with 129 patients. Sociodemographic, clinical and biochemical data were collected from patient charts. In patients with a catheter,, 48.8% had catheter-related infection, 65% were male, 65% were 60 years of age or older, 85.3% had the catheter because they were diagnosed with acute renal failure, and 88% were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. There was a significant correlation between the independent variables and the outcome of infection. The risk factors associated with temporary hemodialysis catheter-related infection were: length of time of catheter use, the change of device, death, and complications during a hemodialysis session.

Gram-negative infections in adult intensive care units of latin america and the Caribbean

This review summarizes recent epidemiology of Gram-negative infections in selected countries from Latin American and Caribbean adult intensive care units (ICUs). A systematic search of the biomedical literature (PubMed) was performed to identify articles published over the last decade. Where appropriate, data also were collected from the reference list of published articles, health departments of specific countries, and registries. Independent cohort data from all countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela) signified a high rate of ICU infections (prevalence: Argentina, 24%; Brazil, 57%). Gram-negative pathogens, predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, accounted for >50% of ICU infections, which were often complicated by the presence of multidrug-resistant strains and clonal outbreaks. Empirical use of antimicrobial agents was identified as a strong risk factor for resistance development and excessive mortality. Infection control strategies utilizing hygiene measures and antimicrobial stewardship programs reduced the rate of device-associated infections. To mitigate the poor health outcomes associated with infections by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, urgent focus must be placed on infection control strategies and local surveillance programs.

[Healthcare associated infections and severity of illness index of patients in intensive care units]

This study was aimed at verifying the relationship between the severity illness index and the occurrence of healthcare associated infections. A prospective cohort was conducted in an intensive care unit of a university hospital, between August 2009 and February 2001. The Average Severity Index Score was used to evaluate the severity of illness. Data was collected by active surveillance and processed in SPSS. Univariate analysis was carried out, statistical signficance when p < 0.05 and confidence interval of 95%. The severity illness index was related to the occurrence of healthcare associated infection, as well as the length of stay in the intensive care unit, patient type, use of invasive procedure, antimicrobials, colonization and patient outcome (p < 0.05). The occurrence of infections was also apredictive factor for the occurrence of death (p = 0.000). These findings reinforce the idea that the occurrence of healthcare associate infections is a complex multifactorial chain, with emphasis on the clinical severity of the patient.