Principles of Critical Care > Part I. An Overview of the Approach to and Organization of Critical Care > Chapter 4. Infection Control and Surveillance in the Intensive Care Unit David K. Warren, Marin H. Kollef

Key Points

"Nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infections result in significant morbidity and mortality. Nosocomial infections have been reported to affect approximately 2 million hospitalized patients in the United States annually, at an estimated cost of $57.6 billion in 2000.^1,2 ICU beds, while only accounting for 5% to 10% of all hospital beds, are responsible for 10% to 25% of health care costs generated.³ Patients admitted to the ICU have been shown to be at particular risk for nosocomial infections, with a prevalence rate as high as 30%.⁴ Given the increasing strain on health care resources in the United States and other countries and the personal impact that these infections have on patients, the prevention of nosocomial infections in the ICU should be an important goal of any critical care clinician...."