Hospital Infections

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are a threat to all hospitalized patients. They can increase morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and costs and occur in almost every body site. This review features an algorithmic approach to the risk, detection, and treatment of nosocomial infections. Respiratory infections include pneumonia, tracheitis or tracheobronchitis, paranasal sinusitis, and otitis media. Operative site or injury-related infections include those occurring in wounds, the intra-abdominal space, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), empyema, posttraumatic meningitis, osteomyelitis, and sternal and mediastinal infection. A review of intravascular device--associated infection focuses on catheter-related bacteremia and its management. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and enteric infections are also considered. Enteric infections and transfusion-associated infections are covered in depth, reviewing the most important recent advances and studies. A discussion of postoperative fever addresses the magnitude and incidence of hospital infections, UTIs, and catheter duration and pathogens typically involved and considers the associated costs and the risks of acquiring a nosocomial infection. This review contains 5 figures, 1 table,1 algorithm, and 292 references.