Survey of nosocomial infections and causative bacteria: A hospital-based study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Nosocomial Infections (NI) presenting during the in-patient stay and their causative bacteria in Golestan teaching hospital, Iran.

Methodology: In a prospective cross-sectional study, all patients admitted in Golestan teaching hospital of Ahvaz from Sep 2009 to March 2010 were included in the study. NNIS questionnaire was used for data collection and essential cultures were done.

Results: From 9407 hospitalized patients, 296 cases (3.1%) proved to have NI. They consisted of 118 women (39.9%) and 178 men (60.1%) (Mean age 46.1±24.1). The rate of NI in Intensive Care Units (ICU wards) was 12% and in other wards was 1% (P=0.003). The mortality rate among patients with NI was 23.3%. The most common types of infection were: UTI (43.6%), pneumonia (35.1%), surgical wound infection (14.5%) and blood infection (6.8%). The most common infection in ICU was pneumonia (45%) and in other wards was UTI (P=0.001). The most common causative bacteria were enterobacter (59.8%) followed by Escherichia coli (34.5%) and pseudomonas aeroginosa (25.3%).

Conclusion: Nosocomial Infections (NI) rate in our study was low compared to many centers and significantly higher in ICU than other wards. Gram negative bacteria were the most common cause of Nosocomial Infections (NI).