title: [Incidence of device-associated infections in a Tunisian intensive care unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare-associated infections represent a real public health problem. They are particularly frequent and severe in intensive care units due to the serious diseases presented by patients and the almost systematic use ofvarious medical devices. A study of the incidence of device-associated infections was conducted in the ICU of CHU Farhat Hached Sousse (Tunisia) to estimate the incidence and to identify risk factorsfor DAI METHODS: This prospective incidence study was conducted during the first quarter of 2012, with anonymous and standardized data collection for all patients hospitalized for at least 48 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 105 patients hospitalizedfor more than 48 hours during the study period, 17 cases of DAI were identified. The incidence density was 16.9 infected patients / 1,000 days of hospitalization. The infections most frequently identified were central and peripheral venous catheter-associated infections. Independent riskfactorsfor DAI in the ICUwere length of ICU stays which increased the risk of DAI by 1.10 per day (95% CI [1.03 - 1.17]; p=0.002), and the use of CVC, which increased the risk by 3.29 (95% CI [1.36 - 7.95]; p=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of continuous surveillance of healthcare-associated infection in the intensive care unit should be encouraged in order to guide the actions of prevention and control of nosocomial infection risk.
authors.forename: Imed
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chouchene
authors.forename: Nabiha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouafia
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Cheikh
authors.forename: Behja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toumi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
authors.forename: Wadiaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bannour
authors.forename: Radhia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helali
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Njah
authors.forename: Slaheddine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchoucha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult