title: Pattern of nosocomial infection in two intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of nosocomial infections in two ICUs' of a teaching hospital in terms of frequency, common sites of infection, the pathogens involved and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was conducted in two medical ICUs (Neurology and Nephrology) of a public tertiary care hospital i.e. Civil Hospital, Karachi, from June to November 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected prospectively on patients suspected to have developed nosocomial infection after 48 hours of admission to the ICU according to objective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 101 cases of suspected nosocomial infection out of a total of 254 patients. The frequency of nosocomial infection was 39.7%. UTI developed in 44.6%, while 27% had blood stream infection, and 21% had pneumonia. Each of the three major sites of infection was strongly associated with the use of invasive devices. Escherichia (E.) coli was the most common organism isolated followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella. E. coli and Klebsiella showed a maximum sensitivity to Imipenem followed by Tazocin (pipericillin + tazobactam). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to Amikacin and Fosfomycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high frequency of nosocomial infection suggests that more strict measures regarding invasive devices should be taken in future to control the infection and limit the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms.
authors: Department of Neurology, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital, Karachi. furqanonweb@yahoo.com
authors: Muhammad Furqan
authors: MF
authors: Rizvi
authors: Yasmin
authors: Y
authors: Hasan
authors: Abdul Rauf
authors: AR
authors: Memon
authors: Abdul R
authors: AR
authors: Memon
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Abdullah
authors: Muhammad Farhan
authors: MF
authors: Rizvi
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Saleem
authors: Jawairia
authors: J
authors: Shakeel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan