Nosocomial infections at Kenyatta National Hospital Intensive-Care Unit in Nairobi, Kenya

Dermatology. 2006:212 Suppl 1:4-7. doi: 10.1159/000089192.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the common bacteria isolated from patients, antibiotics used, sensitivity patterns, therapeutic procedures and cleaning protocols practised in Kenyatta National Hospital Intensive-Care Unit (ICU). Kenyatta National Hospital is a 1,800-bed referral and tertiary-care hospital which is also the Teaching University Hospital. The ICU has 20 beds. Two members of staff, a consultant and a senior nurse, did the study. Out of 195 patients admitted to the unit during the study period, 137 (70.3%) received antibiotics. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics included meropenem, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, piperacillin tazobactam, vancomycin, Augmentin and Flagyl. The most common bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobactor and Escherichia coli isolated from tracheal aspirate, urine, blood and pus swabs.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Intensive Care Units* / statistics & numerical data
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Quality of Health Care

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents