Infection in the intensive care unit

  • Dennis G. Maki
Chapter

Abstract

Intensive care units (ICUs) have contributed significantly to the outcome of patients with trauma, shock states, and other life-threatening conditions, but are associated with a greatly increased risk of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection. Rates of nosocomial infection in patients requiring >1 week of advanced life support within an ICU are 3-5-fold higher than in hospitalized patients who do not require ICU care, and approach 20–25%. Sepsis – occasionally from community-acquired infection, more often from infection acquired in the ICU – is the most frequent cause of multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome, and the leading cause of death in non-coronary care ICUs in the USA at the present time.

Keywords

Intensive Care Unit Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Bacterial Meningitis Bloodstream Infection Citation Count 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag London Limited 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dennis G. Maki
    • 1
  1. 1.Center for Trauma and Life SupportUniversity of Wisconsin Medical SchoolMadisonUSA

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