Incidence and microbiology of bloodstream infections in Hellenic intensive care units VOL1/2

CLINICAL STUDIES

 

Incidence and microbiology of bloodstream infections in Hellenic intensive care units

K. Pontikis, M. Kompoti, M. Kazantzi, K. Arvaniti, E. Papandreou, F. Frantzeskaki, A. Sakagianni, M. Michalia, C. Nikolaou, N. Kapravelos, I. Strouvalis, A. Panagiotakopoulou, V. Soulountsi, K. Madragos, K. Chatzinikolaou, P. Tasioudis, A. Chovas, A. Ioakeimidou, V. Theodorou, I. Chouris, A. Paridou, G. Vlachogianni, E. Mouloudi, A. Vakalos, F. Fligou, E. Nagy, A. Kyparissi, V. Makraki, E. Magira, A. Karathanou, A. Prekates, E. Paramithiotou, K. Katsifa, S. Papanikolaou, V. Mpekos, G. Sideri, P. Opsimoulis, K. Tasopoulos, T. Tavladaki, E. Volakli, E. Papadomichelakis, P. Mirianthefs

            on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Section of the Hellenic Society of Intensive Care Medicine

Abstract

Background and Aim of the Study:

The incidence of Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) in Greek ICUs is unknown. Small studies imply relatively high values. The aim of the current study was the epidemiological and microbiological description of CLABSIs in Hellenic ICUs.

Materials and Methods:

This was an observational study organized by the Infectious Diseases Study Group of the Hellenic Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Thirty-three adult ICUs participated voluntarily in this study, conducted between January 1st and March 1st, 2012. We collected clinical and microbiological data on all episodes of bloodstream infection in study centers during the above interval.

Results:

During the study, 1116 patients were admitted to study ICUs. Two hundred and twenty-six episodes of bloodstream infection in 191 unique patients were registered. One hundred and fifty-six fulfilled the definition of CLABSI and the relevant incidence was 11.3 episodes per 1000 catheter-days. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequent isolate among 252 pathogens, accounting for 30.2% of the cases, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.9%) and Enterococcus spp (13.5%). Most pathogens exhibited a multidrug resistant profile. Study population crude ICU mortality was 54.2%.

Conclusions:

CLABSI incidence in Greek ICUs is high and most pathogens are multi-drug resistant. Crude mortality of ICU patients with bloodstream infection is extremely high and every effort should be made for their prevention.