JSTOR

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Publication Info

Article DOI: 10.1086/502386
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/502386
Device‐Associated Nosocomial Infection Rates in Intensive Care Units of Argentina • 
Victor Rosenthal , MD, CIC, Sandra Guzmán , RN, ICP and Christopher Crnich , MD
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology , Vol. 25, No. 3 (March 2004), pp. 251-255
Article DOI: 10.1086/502386
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/502386
Original Articles

Device‐Associated Nosocomial Infection Rates in Intensive Care Units of Argentina

Formats Available in JSTOR: PDF

Abstract(back to top)

BACKGROUND. Nosocomial infections are an important public health problem in many developing countries, particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. No previous data are available on the incidence of device‐associated nosocomial infections in different types of ICUs in Argentina.

METHODS. We performed a prospective nosocomial infection surveillance study during the first year of an infection control program in six Argentinean ICUs. Nosocomial infections were identified using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System definitions, and site‐specific nosocomial infection rates were calculated.

RESULTS. The rate of catheter‐associated bloodstream infections in medical–surgical ICUs was 30.3 per 1,000 devicedays; it was 14.2 per 1,000 device‐days in coronary care units (CCUs). The rate of ventilator‐associated pneumonia in medical –surgical ICUs was 46.3 per 1,000 device‐days; it was 45.5 per 1,000 device‐days in CCUs. The rate of symptomatic catheterassociated urinary tract infections in medical–surgical ICUs was 18.5 per 1,000 device‐days; it was 12.1 per 1,000 device‐days in CCUs.

CONCLUSION. The high rate of nosocomial infections in Argentinean ICUs found during our surveillance suggests that ongoing targeted surveillance and implementation of proven infection control strategies is needed in developing countries such as Argentina.

Bibliographic Information(back to top)

  • Device‐Associated Nosocomial Infection Rates in Intensive Care Units of Argentina
  • Victor Rosenthal , MD, CIC, Sandra Guzmán , RN, ICP and Christopher Crnich , MD
  • Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
  • Vol. 25, No. 3 (March 2004) (pp. 251-255)

Author Information(back to top)

Victor Rosenthal , MD, CIC; Sandra Guzmán , RN, ICP; Christopher Crnich , MD

Notes and References(back to top)

This item contains 1 note(s).

Notes

Dr. Rosenthal and Ms. Guzmán are from Hospital Epidemiology Consultant, Inc., Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Crnich is from the Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin.Address reprint requests to Victor Daniel Rosenthal, MD, CIC, Arengreen 1366, Buenos Aires, 1405, Argentina.

Items Citing this Item (back to top)

4 item(s) in JSTOR cite this item

© 2004 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.