Microbiological profile of the main healthcare-associated infections in the Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i9.49472Keywords:
Hospital Infection, Intensive Care Units, Infection Control.Abstract
Introduction: Intensive Care Units (ICUs) provide complex support to critically ill patients, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Effective HAI prevention requires evidence-based measures, highlighting the importance of this study. Objective: To assess and compare the HAI profile in a University Hospital by collecting data from the medical records of patients admitted to ICUs during 2024. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study based on data from the Hospital Infection Control Committee, including all patients admitted to the four ICUs of a University Hospital who acquired HAIs from January to December 2024. Proportions were analyzed using the chi-square and G tests, when appropriate, with Bioestat 5.0 software, adopting a 5% significance level. This project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 436 HAIs were recorded, with 425 cultures requested, of which 310 were positive. Lower respiratory tract infections accounted for 59.6% of the cases. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most prevalent microorganism, with 67 cases, including 32 carbapenemase-producing strains, more frequently found in two of the four ICUs. Conclusion: The study identified clinical and epidemiological variations linked to bed regulation policies, influencing patient profiles and infection risk, reinforcing the importance of local microbiological surveillance and unit-specific analysis to guide antimicrobial use and infection control strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marcela Caroline Gomes, Carmen Antonia Sanches Ito, Maria Dagmar da Rocha Gaspar, Larissa Bail, Elisangela Gueiber Montes

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