An epidemiologic study of nosocomial infections and its related factors at the intensive care unit of Tohid Hospital, in Sanandaj during 2003-2004

Nosocomial Infections are nearly the most important health problem in the world. The high costs of treatment, the great number of patients with high mortality and morbidity rates and also increased incidence of these infections are suggestive of the importance of these infections. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiologic status and the rate of acquired infections together with their related factors in ICU and post ICU patients at Tohid Hospital, in Sanandaj. This is a cross sectional descriptive study. The sample size included 160 patients who had been admitted to ICU and post ICU during a period of 6 months. Demographic data and prevalence rate of nosocomial infections and results of clinical and para-clinical measures were recorded. The data were analyzed by means of SPSS-win software. In our study the prevalence rate of nosocomial infections was 15.6%. The most frequent infections were pneumonia (68%), UTI (19.2%), bed sore (7.8%), sepsis (3.8%) and infections of unknown origin (3.8%). The most frequent isolated microorganisms were Klebsiella Pneumonia (47.05%), Ecoli (17.64%), and Entrobacter spp (17.64%). There was an important relationship between the duration of hospitalization and the prevalence rate of the infections (p=0.000). But there was no significant linkage between age, intubation or tracheostomy with the prevalence rate of the infections The results of our study supported previous data concerning nosocomial infections. In order to decrease the rate of nosocomial infections, assignment of one nurse for one patient and proper hand washing should be emphasized.