title: Distribution of nosocomial organisms and their resistance patterns in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the distribution and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of nosocomial pathogens in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the laboratory records of all ICU patients from 2002-2004 was done. All organisms isolated from blood, urine, sputum, wound swabs and CVP tips were recorded. Sensitivity reports for organisms isolated in 2004 were also obtained. Results were analysed according to source of isolates and type of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gram-negative organisms account for the majority oflCU isolates and show resistance to multiple antibiotics. The common Gram negative pathogens in the ICU are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia while the common Gram positive nosocomial organisms are Group D Streptococcus and coagulase negative Staphylococcus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The organisms isolated in the ICU at the UHWI are similar to those isolated in many ICUs all over the world. Surveillance data are necessary to monitor nosocomial pathogens and their resistance patterns to guide empirical antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. alison.nicholson@uwimona.edu.jm
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ledgister
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gayle
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moonah
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014900:West Indies