Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2003 , Vol 13 , Num 2
MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS IN NEUROSURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Abdürrahim DERBENT1, Tayfun BALBASTI2, Nurcan ÖZDAMAR2, Dilek ÖZENÇ2
1Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Ana Bilim Dalı
2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nöroşirürji Ana Bilim Dalı
Objective: Nosocomial infection is an important problem because of its high morbidity and mortality rates. There can be differences between ICU's infection rates and microorganism related to different patient groups, clinical flora or surveillance methods and diagnostic criteria. We aimed to investigate the pathogens in our clinic.

Methods: We studied retrospectively the samples taken from the patients who had been operated in our neurosurgery department, remained in ICU and identified infection during ICU period.

Results: Pathogen isolated from 162 samples taken from the 97 patients suspected having infection. The median length of stay of the patients from whom Candida albicans isolated in their cultures were longer (45.14±31.90 days) than bacterial infected and noninfected ones (p<0.05). The mortality rate of the infected patients [15/97 (%15.5)] was significantly more than the non-infected patients [58/498 (%11,6)] (p<0.05). Median age of the patients with fatal infection (50.33±21.96 years) was higher than non-fatal infected cases (34.47±25.74years) and non infected ones (33.19±25.44 years).

Conclusion: In this study, the microbial flora of our clinic was identified for one year period. Also we conclude that nosocomial infections can increase the mortality rate and advanced age is a factor that increases mortality rate. Anahtar Kelimeler : Nosocomial infection, neurosurgery, ICU