[Healthcare associated infections in cardiac surgery patients: results of a study conducted in a university hospital in Catanzaro (Italy)].
The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of healthcare-associated infections in patients admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Division of the University Hospital in Catanzaro (Italy) from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009. The methodology developed by the National Healthcare Safety Network was used. In total 887 patients were evaluated, 5.9% of whom developed at least one healthcare-associated infection giving an incidence of 4.8 infections/1000 patient days. The incidence of surgical site infections was 1.5 per 100 surgical procedures. In the Intensive Care Unit, the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection was found to be 10.6/1000 catheter-days, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 9.7/1000 ventilator days, while the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections was 0.9/1000 catheter days. In the Cardiac Surgery Unit, the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection was found to be 2.2 per 1000 catheter-days while the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections was 3.3/1,000 catheter days. Epidemiological surveillance has a fundamental role in the control of healthcare associated infections because it allows us to measure the frequency of infections and to rapidly adopt adequate control measures.
Cattedra di Igiene, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Università degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro.
Domenico
D
Flotta
Maria
M
Crinò
Claudia
C
Pileggi
Carmelo G A
CG
Nobile
Aida
A
Bianco
D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors