Healthcare-associated infections acquired in intensive care units - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2022
In 2022, 9 802 of 100 277 patients (9.8%) staying in an intensive care unit (ICU) for more than two days presented with at least one of the ICU-acquired healthcare-associated infections (HAI) under surveillance (pneumonia, bloodstream infection or urinary tract infection).
Of all patients staying in an ICU for more than two days, 6% presented with pneumonia, 4% with bloodstream infection (BSI) and 3% with urinary tract infection (UTI). Eighty-three percent of pneumonia episodes were associated with intubation, 43% of BSI episodes were catheter-related, and 95% of UTI episodes were associated with presence of a urinary catheter. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU-acquired pneumonia episodes, coagulase-negative staphylococci in ICU-acquired BSIs, and Escherichia coli in ICU-acquired UTIs. Antimicrobial use was empirical in 55% of ‘days of therapy’ (DOTs), directed in 34% of DOTs and prophylactic in 11% of DOTs.
Fourteen percent of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were oxacillin-resistant (MRSA) and 10% of Enterococcus spp. were glycopeptide-resistant. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was reported in 16% of E. coli isolates, 34% of Klebsiella spp. isolates and 40% of Enterobacter spp. isolates. Carbapenem resistance was reported in 14% of Klebsiella spp. isolates, 23% of P. aeruginosa isolates and 74% of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates.
