[Factors influencing hospital infection in patients in the intensive care unit].
OBJECTIVE
The accumulation of risk factors in hospitalized patients is one of the elements contributing to the increase in the frequency of nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our aim was to identify nosocomial infection risk factors in the ICU of our hospital.


METHODS
We performed a prospective cohort study of 1,134 patients admitted to the ICU for at least 24 hours in 2001. The patients were followed-up for 48 hours after leaving the ICU. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors.


RESULTS
The intrinsic risk factors identified were the principal diagnosis motivating admission to the ICU, traumatic brain injury and renal insufficiency. Invasive techniques that were independently associated with nosocomial infection (from high to low risk) were urinary catheter, tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, Swan-Ganz catheter, and total parenteral nutrition.


CONCLUSIONS
Although endogenous risk factors, which cannot be modified, represented the most important associated factors, steps to reduce nosocomial infections should concentrate on the following exogenous risk factors: urinary catheter, tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, Swan-Ganz catheters, and total parenteral nutrition.
Llanos-Méndez
Aurora
A
Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
Díaz-Molina
Carmen
C
Barranco-Quintana
José Luis
JL
García-Ortúzar
Visitación
V
Fernández-Crehuet
Rafael
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects