EPIDEMIOLOGY OF NOSOCOMIAL BACTEREMIA IN EASTERN FRANCE

Bacteremia occurs frequently among critically ill patients. The aim of this study carried out in Eastern France was to describe the epidemio logy of nosocomial bacteremia and to assess the methicillin-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Data were collected during a 4 months prospective survey (09/96-12/96) carried out among 44 hospitals. We co unted 2633 episodes of bacteremia classified as contamination (684), n osocomial bacteremia (970) and community bacteremia (979). Incidence r ate of nosocomial bacteremia was 30,7 per 100 beds in the intensive ca re units. When documented, the origin of the nosocomial bacteremia was the most often catheter blood related infection or urinary tract infe ction. Gram positif cocci were predominant among nosocomial bacteremia (53,8 %). Among Gram negative bacteria (enterobacteria) (31,6 %), Esc herichia coli was the most frequently isolated. SA was methicillin-res istant in 18,3 % of community bacteremia and in 26,5 % of nosocomial b acteremia. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus were methicillin-resistan t in 25,4 % of community bacteremia and in 60,1 % of nosocomial bacter emia. Measures to prevent catheter blood related infections and urinar y tract infections may be started.