The incidence and risk factors of nosocomial infections in intensive care unit in China: an epidemiological study of 1718 patients

Objective: This study aims to explore the incidence and risk factors of nosocomial infections (NIs) in the intensive care unit (ICU) in China. Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2013, a total of 1718 patients with a mean age of 59.02 ± 20.71 years in ICU were included. Clinical data of these patients, including gender, age, length of stay, the overall rate of patients with NIs, the distribution of NIs sites and pathogens, were collected. Univariate analysis was used to determine the potential risk factors for NIs in ICU and the multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors. Results: Among 1,718 patients, the overall NIs rate was 32.48% (558/1,718). Respiratory tract infection (RTI) accounted for 64.75% of total NIs, followed by urinary tract infection (UTI) for 9.4% and bloodstream infection (BSI) for 7.96%. Of the 558 patients with NIs, 2378 pathogens were identified, in which gram-negative aerobic bacilli (71.4%) were the most frequent, and followed by gram-positive aerobic bacilli (19.26%). Univariate analysis showed that length of stay, urinary catheter, blood catheter and and ventilator were associated with NIs in ICU. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that length of stay, urinary catheter and ventilator were independent risk factors for NIs in ICU. Conclusion: There was a relatively high and stable incidence of NIs in ICU. Length of stay, use of urinary catheters and ventilator were independent risk factors for NIs in ICU.