PREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS FOR NOSOCOMIAL LOWER RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN GERMAN HOSPITALS

The prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in Germany were determined as part of a national su rvey on nosocomial infections. The study included 14,966 patients in 7 2 representatively selected hospitals with departments of general medi cine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and intensive care units (ICU). Surveillance was carried out by four previously validated medical doc tors who strictly applied the CDC criteria for diagnosis of nosocomial infections. The overall prevalence of hospital-acquired LRTI was 0.72 % with the highest rate in hospitals with more than 600 beds (1.08%) a nd among the patients on intensive care units (9.00%). Ventilator-asso ciated pneumonia rates were highest in patients on ICUs (13.27). Polyt rauma, impaired consciousness, chronic airway disease, prior surgery, and cardiovascular disease were significantly related to the occurrenc e of nosocomial LRTI. P. aeruginosa was the predominant organism causi ng nosocomial LRTI. Nosocomial LRTI remain a problem mainly on ICUs. P atients at risk should be monitored with extra care. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.