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.