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Risk factors for nosocomial bloodstream infections

Eleni Apostolopolou1, Georgios Katsaris, Theophanis Katostaras

  • 1Nursing Department, University of Athens, Greece.

British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|June 28, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays, trauma on admission, and ventilator-associated pneumonia increase the risk of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (BSI). These findings highlight the importance of treatment-related factors in BSI development.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSI) are a significant concern in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • Identifying risk factors for BSI is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify independent risk factors associated with nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSI) in medical-surgical intensive care units (ICUs).

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study involving 205 patients over a 5-month period in four ICUs in Athens, Greece.
  • Data were analyzed using single and multivariate statistical methods to determine risk factors for BSI.
  • Incidence density of BSI was calculated per 1000 patient-days.

Main Results:

  • Thirty-five patients (17.1%) developed nosocomial BSI, with an incidence density of 14.3 per 1000 patient-days.
  • Multivariate analysis identified three independent risk factors for BSI: length of ICU stay (AOR 1.052), presence of trauma at admission (AOR 2.622), and nosocomial ventilator-associated pneumonia (AOR 6.153).
  • The strongest predictor was nosocomial ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Conclusions:

  • The length of ICU stay, trauma at admission, and ventilator-associated pneumonia are significant independent risk factors for nosocomial BSI.
  • Treatment-related factors during ICU stay have a substantial influence on the development of BSI.
  • These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to mitigate BSI risk in critically ill patients.

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