Hospital Practices and Research

Comparative Epidemiology of Device-Associated Infections in an Adult ICU at a Tertiary Care Center

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Bineeta Kashyap 1
Bhavya Ramakrishnan 1
Keerthana Mariappan Rajendran 1
Vinod Kumar 2

1 Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi-110095, India

2 Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi-110095, India

10.30491/hpr.2025.542225.1505
Abstract
Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), particularly device-associated infections (DAIs) in ICUs, pose a significant global health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Objectives: This study aims to estimate the HAI burden by analyzing DAI rates and resistance patterns in ICU settings, contributing to evidence-based infection control strategies.
Methods: We conducted a six-month prospective observational study in the adult ICU of GTBH (July–December 2024), focusing on patients with DAIs. Incidence and device utilization rates were calculated using CDC-standardized metrics based on device and patient days.
Results: Out of 286 patients, 40 developed a total of 62 DAIs, comprising 25 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (40.3%), 19 cases of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CLABSI) (30.65%), and 18 cases of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) (29.03%). VAP had the highest cumulative infection rate (22.6%), followed by CLABSI (21%) and CAUTI (10.8%). Acinetobacter baumannii was the dominant isolate in VAP cases, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. were predominant in CLABSI cases, and non-albicans Candida was the leading pathogen in CAUTI cases. Significant antimicrobial resistance was observed, especially among Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species. Notably, the case fatality rate among DAI patients reached 57.5%.
Conclusion: In conclusion, our surveillance study highlights a substantial burden of DAIs in the ICU, with VAP being the most prevalent. The dominance of multidrug-resistant pathogens and the striking 57.5% fatality rate emphasize the urgent need for robust infection control, tailored stewardship programs, and continuous local epidemiological monitoring.

Keywords

Intensive Care Unit
Device-Associated Infections
Surveillance
Epidemiology
Infection Control
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Hospital Practices and Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 March 2026

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