title: Prevention of nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit.
abstract: Infections are considered nosocomial if they occur 48 hours or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge. One third of these infections are considered preventable. Many studies have shown that with proper education and use of strict guidelines, we can prevent nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit. In this article, we will review the literature on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection, central line-associated blood stream infection, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. ajk145@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kanouff
authors.forename: Kurt D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: DeHaven
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000379:methods; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control