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Infectious Diseases in Critical Care pp 292–302Cite as

Bloodstream Infection in the Intensive Care Unit

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Abstract

Nosocomial infections occur in 5–10% of patients admitted to hospitals in the United States [1]. The endemic rates of nosocomial infections vary markedly between hospitals and between areas of the same hospital. Patients in intensive care units (ICUs), representing 8–15% of hospital admissions, suffer a disproportionately high percentage of nosocomial infections compared with patients in non-critical care areas [2–7]. Wenzel et al. [3] reported that patients admitted to ICUs account for 45% of all nosocomial pneumonias and bloodstream infections, although critical care units comprise only 5–10% of all hospital beds. Severity of underlying disease, invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, contaminated life-support equipment, and the prevalence of resistant microorganisms are critical factors in the high rate of infection in ICUs [8].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Care Department, Institut Universitari Parc Tauli, Hospital Sabadell, Parc Taulí, s/n, 08208, Sabadell, Spain

    J. Valles MD, PhD

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  1. J. Valles MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Care Department, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Carrer Mallafré Guasch, 4, E-43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Jordi Rello MD, PhD  & Alejandro Rodríguez MD, PhD  & 

  2. Medical Intensive Care Unit, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8052, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA

    Marin Kollef MD (Professor of Medicine and Director) (Professor of Medicine and Director)

  3. Intensive Care Department, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Carrer Mallafré Guasch, 4, E-43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Emili Díaz MD

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Valles, J. (2007). Bloodstream Infection in the Intensive Care Unit. In: Rello, J., Kollef, M., Díaz, E., Rodríguez, A. (eds) Infectious Diseases in Critical Care. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34406-3_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34406-3_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-34405-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-34406-3

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