[Nosocomial diarrhea in the intensive care unit: incidence and risk factors].
BACKGROUND
Nosocomial diarrhea seems to be common at intensive care units, although its epidemiology be poorly documented in Brazil.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and risk factors of diarrhea among adult patients admitted to intensive care units.


METHODS
Four hundred and fifty five patients were prospectively included during the period between October 2005 and October 2006. Demographic, clinical and biochemical data as well as aspect and number of bowel movements were recorded on a daily basis until discharge from the unit.


RESULTS
Diarrhea occurred in 135 (29.5%) patients, lasting 5.4 days average. The time of its onset in according to admission was 17.8 days and similar cases of diarrhea during the same period were recorded in 113 (83.7%) patients. In a multivariate analysis through the logistics regression model, only the number of antibiotics (OR 1.65; I.C. 95% = 1.39-1.95) and the number of days of antibiotic therapy (OR 1.16; I.C. 95% = 1.12-1.20) were statistically associated with the diarrhea occurrence. Each day added of antibiotic therapy, raised in 16% the risk of diarrhea (I.C. 12% to 20%), while the addition of one more antibiotic to the scheme, increased the chances of occurring diarrhea in 65% (I.C. 39% to 95%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of nosocomial diarrhea in intensive care units is high (29.5%). The main risk factors for its occurrence were number of prescribed antibiotics and duration of the antibiotic therapy. Besides the enteric precautions, judicious and limited prescription of antimicrobians probably will reduce the occurrence of diarrhea at this unit.
Borges
Sérvulo Luiz
SL
Disciplina de Anatomia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, MG. servuloborges@terra.com.br
Pinheiro
Bruno do Valle
Bdo V
Pace
Fabio Heleno de Lima
FH
Chebli
Julio Maria Fonseca
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult