[ENT nosocomial infections in the intestinal care unit]

This is a report about the outcome following a study of watchfullness on hospital acquired infections of the E.N.T.-area, during a 7 months term. In the study are included those internees admitted for more than 48 hours in the unit. In each case the clinical record comprises the infective risk factors, the follow-up and treatment, as well as a naso-pharyngo-laryngoscopy with cold light. If necessary cultures and imaging studies were done and even invasive procedures employed with diagnostical and/or therapeutical purposes (punction or surgery). In the whole, a collective of 24 patients, with an average attendance of 17.5 days (margin 3-60 days), average age 54.4 years (margin 22-85 years), 5 nosocomial E.N.T.-infections were detected: 2 pansinusitis, 2 bacterial otitis media and 1 case of infected tracheostome. This figures should be related with an incidence rate of 20.8 percent discharges. Cranio-encephalic traumata, the taken of antimycotics and either the simultaneous use of feeding tubes (naso-gastric, naso-jejunal) have had a statistical value as risk factors linked with ENT-area. Discussion on the need for establishing a permanent program of surveillance of ENT-infections in the ICU without missing a routine naso-pharyngolaryngoscopy.