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[Microbiologic flora in two different periods in intensive care units]

M Capuzzo1, M L Nepoti, M R Rossi

  • 1Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi di Ferrara.

Minerva Anestesiologica
|March 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Intensive Care Units (ICUs) saw a rise in Gram-positive bacteria and a decrease in Gram-negative bacteria between 1985-1986 and 1988-1989. This shift in bacterial prevalence may impact infection rates in critical care settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Context:

  • Bacterial surveillance in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is crucial for understanding evolving resistance patterns.
  • Two distinct periods (1985-1986 and 1988-1989) were compared to assess changes in microbial flora.
  • The study focused on specimens from patients admitted to two similar ICUs within the same hospital.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate changes in bacterial and fungal prevalence in ICU patients over time.
  • To compare the distribution of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria between the two study periods.
  • To investigate potential correlations between microbial findings and patient characteristics, such as respiratory failure.

Summary:

  • Gram-positive bacteria increased from 45.3% to 62.3%, while Gram-negative bacteria decreased from 41.9% to 29% between the two periods.
  • Fungal prevalence remained constant.
  • A higher percentage of tracheal aspirate specimens showed no microbial growth in the second period (54.3% vs. 33.3%), potentially linked to increased treatment of chronic respiratory failure.

Impact:

  • Highlights a significant shift towards Gram-positive bacterial dominance in ICUs.
  • Suggests that the observed low rate of pneumonia may be attributed to the patients' neurological status.
  • Provides valuable data for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control strategies in critical care environments.

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