Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Patients admitted to a critical care unit are frequently exposed to invasive interventions. In some patients the interventions are permanently required to maintain life. As the bedridden patients with need of lifelong care cannot be transferred to a longterm facility care unit they are hospitalized in critical care units for unnecessarily long times. In this study we analyzed invasive-device related infection rates and causative agents in patients admitted in a critical care over 180 days.

METHODS

Diagnosis of infections were made according to criteria put forward by Centers for sease Control and Prevention (CDC). data regarding specific infection rates and the causative agents were recruited by using center's electronical medical data system, international hospital-infections surveillance network (IHISN), and international hospital-infections surveillance programme (INFLINE).

RESULTS

The rate of invasive device related infections decreased consecutively in 90-days intervals. The specific type of prevalent infection and pertaining causative agents varied at each interval.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study pointed out that as for bedridden patients dependent on invasive devices for life maintenance but not in need for critical care follow-up, long-term care facilities should be implemented in short time.