Prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections in German hospitals

The prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in Germany were determined as part of a national survey on nosocomial infections. The study included 14,966 patients in 72 representatively selected hospitals with departments of general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and intensive care units (ICU). Surveillance was carried out by four previously validated medical doctors who strictly applied the CDC criteria for diagnosis of nosocomial infections. The overall prevalence of hospital-acquired LRTI was 0.72% with the highest rate in hospitals with more than 600 beds (1.08%) and among the patients on intensive care units (9.00%). Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates were highest in patients on ICUs (13.27). Polytrauma, impaired consciousness, chronic airway disease, prior surgery, and cardiovascular disease were significantly related to the occurrence of nosocomial LRTI. P. aeruginosa was the predominant organism causing nosocomial LRTI. Nosocomial LRTI remain a problem mainly on ICUs. Patients at risk should be monitored with extra care. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.