Risk factors and countermeasures of nosocomial infection in elderly patients in intensive care unit(ICU)

Objective To analyze the risk factors of nosocomial infection in elderly patients in ICU and to explore the countermeasures of hospital infection.Methods A prospective study was carried out among 1 152 elderly patients(age≥60 years) in ICU from January 2004 to December 2010.The disease conditions of the patients were classified.Results The rate of nosocomial infection in the elderly patients was 38.10%.The patients with more underlying diseases had a higher rate of hospital infection and higher mortality.The main type of infection was respiratory infection(74.02%).The infection pathogen was mainly Gram-negative bacilli (74.11%).Length of hospitalization,urinary tract intubation,ventilator,and coma were the risk factors for nosocomial infection(P< 0.05).Conclusion Elderly patients have a high incidence of infection in hospitals and positive and effective measures should be taken to control the nosocomial infection.ICU; elderly patient; nosocomial infection; risk factor