Abstract

Background: Hospital infections are important because of increased riskof mortality and morbidity and their economic burden and are most commonly seen in intensive care units(ICUs). We aimed to document the characteristics of patients at an ICU, obtain bacteriologic samples,and determine the distribution of the isolated microorganisms. Material/Methods: The study was conductedin the ICU of an anesthesiology department with 16 beds. The characteristics of 154 patients treatedthere over a one-year period were documented. The distribution of bacteriologic samples and isolatedmicroorganisms and susceptibilities were investigated. The emerging hospital infections were determinedusing surveillance methods that were based on clinical and laboratory data. Results: Intoxication wasthe most common cause of hospitalization, followed by respiratory insufficiency due to severe pneumoniaand/or chronic obstructive respiratory disease, then trauma, postoperative conditions, and cerebrovascularproblems. The mean number of culture studies per patient was 5.36+/-3.27. Cultures were most commonlyobtained from patients with respiratory insufficiency and trauma. According to clinical specimens, themost commonly isolated microorganisms were E. Coli (37.2%) in urine, S. Aureus (50.0%) in blood, P. aeruginosa(25.7%) in tracheal aspirates, and Acinetobacter spp. (37.5%) in wounds. Considering all specimens, MRSA(22.0%) was the most common microorganism. Conclusions: Hospital infections pose an serious problem inan ICU setting. Surveillance studies comprise the basis for treatment of ICU infections. A multidisciplinaryapproach is required for a better quality of care and the achievement of therapy.

Keywords: Anesthesiology, Acinetobacter - isolation & purification, Bacteremia - microbiology, Bacterial Infections - microbiology, Cross Infection - microbiology, Escherichia coli - isolation & purification, Hospital Departments, Intensive Care Units, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Pneumonia, Bacterial - microbiology, Pseudomonas aeruginosa - isolation & purification, Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification, Surgical Wound Infection - microbiology, Turkey, Urinary Tract Infections - microbiology