title: Usefulness of severity indices in intensive care medicine as a predictor of nosocomial infection risk.
abstract: To evaluate the relationship between severity and nosocomial infection in critical patients, we have conducted a prospective study at the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Granada Hospital (Spain). Patients' severity was evaluated by APACHE II and TISS. We found a positive association with nosocomial infection risk for an APACHE II score greater than 12 points (RR = 2.45) and for first-day TISS greater than 20 points (RR = 2.51). With a multivariate analysis we did not find an association between APACHE II and nosocomial infection risk, but each TISS point suggests an infection risk increment of 6%. We concluded TISS may be considered a good infection risk predictor. TISS could also be taken into account when nosocomial infection rates from several ICUs are compared.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Universitario de Granada, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bueno-Cavanillas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Contreras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Luque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado-Rodríguez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gálves-Vargas
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology