ICU infections alarming in world hospitals presstv

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ICU infections alarming in world hospitals
Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:27:38 GMT

While infection is reported in some 50 percent of patients admitted to intensive care units across the world, more than 70 percent of them receive antibiotics.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than half of the ICU patients suffer from various infections.

Lungs are the main infection site in some 64 percent of the cases. Staphylococcus aureus followed by E. coli and Pseudomonas are the most common germs in ICU infections.

Infections particularly blood-borne ones, such as sepsis, are the leading cause of long hospitalizations and non-cardiac deaths in ICU.

Different types of antibiotics are given to 70 percent of ICU patients, many of which are not suffering from any infections.

Many believe this trend is responsible for bacterial mutation and subsequently the growing number of antibiotic resistance across the globe.

"Early intervention with appropriate antibiotics is lifesaving in patients with severe infection, yet the profligate use of antimicrobial agents contributes to progressive antimicrobial resistance," the authors wrote.

Scientists concluded that infections remain a common problem in ICU patients, urging officials to establish global and regional guidelines to help optimize infection prevention and management in different parts of the world.

PKH/HGH
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