[Monitoring infection at the intensive care unit--a multicenter pilot study]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Epidemiology

Context:

• A 3-month prospective infection survey was conducted across four intensive care units (ICUs) in Austria and Germany.
• The study involved 329 patients, aiming to evaluate monitoring parameters and characterize patient populations.
• Significant variations were observed in patient demographics, including duration of stay, mortality, intubation rates, and pulmonary artery catheter use.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the utility of parameters within a novel infection monitoring form for intensive care units.
• To characterize and compare patient populations across four distinct intensive care units.
• To identify differences in infection acquisition rates, types, and onset within ICUs.

Summary:

• The survey identified substantial differences in patient populations and clinical characteristics among the four ICUs.
• Infection rates varied, with 9-43% of patients admitted with existing infections and 12-37% acquiring infections during their ICU stay.
• Common acquired infections included bronchopneumonia, septicemia, and urinary tract infections, with septicemia patients experiencing higher rates of additional infections and a median onset on day five.

Impact:

• The study revealed marked differences in antibiotic usage across the ICUs.
• Findings underscore the need for standardized infection surveillance and highlight variations in critical care practices.
• The experience gained led to the development of a modified monitoring protocol to better track the timeline of documented events.