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Predominant pathogens in hospital infections
1Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Common hospital-acquired infections are caused by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Enterococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci are increasingly important pathogens in U.S. hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Nosocomial infections pose a significant threat to patient safety in healthcare settings.
- Understanding the distribution of causative pathogens is crucial for effective infection control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence and distribution of pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections across different sites within U.S. hospitals.
- To identify trends in the importance of specific pathogens over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System.
- Analyzed pathogen data from October 1986 to December 1990 for hospitals conducting hospital-wide and intensive care unit (ICU) surveillance.
Main Results:
- Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were consistently reported pathogens.
- Enterococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci emerged as pathogens of increasing significance.
- Pathogen distribution varied by infection site (e.g., bloodstream, respiratory, surgical wounds, urinary tract) and hospital surveillance type (hospital-wide vs. ICU).
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa remain key nosocomial pathogens.
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci, enterococci, and Candida albicans are increasingly important.
- Tailored infection control measures are necessary due to site-specific and location-dependent pathogen distributions.