Reduction of urinary tract infections acquired in an intensive care unit during a 10-year surveillance program.
OBJECTIVE
To describe trends of urinary catheter-related infections (UCRIs) acquired by patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) in relation with an infection control program.


METHODS
Prospective surveillance in one ICU of a university hospital in Lyon (France) between 1995 and 2004.


RESULTS
A 66% reduction of urinary catheter-related infections (UCRIs) acquired by patients hospitalized was observed between 1995 and 2004 after adjustment on age, gender, antibiotic use at admission, and duration of exposure to urinary catheter.


CONCLUSIONS
These results, obtained by continuous epidemiological monitoring of nosocomial infections, are encouraging with regard to the improvement of infection control measures and the evolution of medical practices. Further studies in ICUs are needed to confirm this trend.
Vanhems
Philippe
P
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Prevention, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Place d'Arsonval, Lyon Cedex 03, 69437 Lyon, France. philippe.vanhems@chu-lyon.fr
Baratin
Dominique
D
Voirin
Nicolas
N
Savey
Anne
A
Caillat-Vallet
Emmanuelle
E
Metzger
Marie-Hélène
MH
Lepape
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control