Mortality attributable to nosocomial infections in the ICU.
Although a direct relationship between nosocomial infection and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients has not always been demonstrated formally, it is possible to conclude that nosocomial infections increase the risk of death in critically ill patients. A more precise analysis indicates that: 1) this effect is highly probable for pneumonia, doubtful for bacteremia, and uncertain for urinary tract infection; 2) risk increases with duration of stay in the ICU; 3) bacterial etiology modifies the risk; and 4) this effect is stronger in less severely ill patients, probably because the severity of underlying disease remains the most significant factor.
Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
J Y
JY
Fagon
A
A
Novara
F
F
Stephan
E
E
Girou
M
M
Safar
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000401:mortality; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality