title: [Prevalence of nosocomial infections in 27 hospitals in the Mediterranean region].
abstract: A multicentre study was conducted in 27 hospitals in Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Morocco and Tunisia to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of the nosocomial infections. The study population (4634 patients) was relatively young, mean age 41.1 (standard deviation 23.4) years. The prevalence of nosocomial infections was 10.5%; this was higher in non-teaching centres and moderate-sized hospitals. Overall, urinary tract infections were the most common. Paediatric departments rated particularly high (11.3%). The most commonly isolated organisms were: Escherichia coli (17.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (12.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.2% each). On the day of the study, 40.7% of the patients were under treatment with antibiotics, with nearly half for an empirical indication. Nosocomial infection was significantly associated with mechanical ventilation, hospitalization > or = 8 days, presence of a central or peripheral catheter), urinary catheter, diabetes and age.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'epidémiologie et santé publique, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France. kamazian@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amazian
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sekkat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terzaki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dhidah
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdelmoumène
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fabry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents