Prevalence of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients with abdominal pathology.

ABSTRACT

Bacterial infection is a problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). We conducted the present study in the surgical ICU over a period of 5 months to determine the prevalence of nosocomial infection. Our ICU has a bed strength of 7 with an average occupancy rate of 5.46 patients. Mechanical ventilation associated pneumonitis was the commonest nosocomial infection. Older patients, patients with organ system failure and patients with co-morbid conditions were at high risk of developing nosocomial infections. E. coli was the commonest and most resistant organism grown in our study.