Surveillance of the Nosocomial Infections in Pamukkale University Cardiovascular Surgery Unit

• Main Authors: Suzan SAÇAR, Mustafa SAÇAR, Gökhan ÖNEM, Ahmet BALTALARLI, Ali ASAN, Semra TOPRAK, Hüseyin TURGUT
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi 2008-03-01
• Series: Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi
• Subjects: Nosocomial infections; Cardiovascular surgical procedure; Staphylococcus aureus
• Online Access: http://www.floradergisi.org/getFileContent.aspx?op=REDPDF&file_name=2008-13-1-013-018.pdf

Infection is one of the most fearful complications of cardiovascular surgery operations because of its association with increased mortality, morbidity, hospital stay and economic cost. In this study we aimed to present the prospective surveillance results of nosocomial infections in Cardiovascular Surgery Unit between January 01 and December 31, 2004. This study was performed with laboratory and clinical based active surveillance method. Twenty-five nosocomial infections were determined in twenty-two of 558 patients hospitalized in the clinic during one year follow up period and the incidence of nosocomial infection ratio was found to be 4.3% (95% CI; 2.4-6.1%). This percentage was 6.4% (95% CI; 3.6-9.1%) in patients undergone any surgical intervention. Twenty of the patients were male, two were female and the mean age was 64.8 ± 11.5 years. The most frequent nosocomial infection was found to be surgical site infection. White blood cell counts in the patients with nosocomial infection varied between 4700-29300 (mean: 13382.6). The most frequent isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus and 57.1% of them were methicillin-resistant. The most frequent used regimens in the treatment of the infection attacks were: glycopeptides (24%), beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination plus glycopeptid plus amikacin (24%) and beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (16%). We treated 96% of the patients successfully, and one patient died. It should be paid attention to surgical site infection in patients undergone cardiovascular surgical intervention. Follow up period after hospital discharge is very important and empirical treatment should be chosen by considering that the dominant microorganism is methicilin-resistant S. aureus in our hospital.