Invasive device-related infections after heart surgery.

Objective: To analyze postoperative infections in critically ill patients undergoing heart surgery.

Setting: Intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: An observational, prospective, multicenter study was carried out.

[Impact of primary and intravascular catheter-related bacteremia due to coagulase-negative staphylococci in critically ill patients].

Objective: To study the impact of coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CNS) primary and intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection (PBSI/CRBSI) on mortality and morbidity in critically-ill patients.

Design: We performed a double analysis using data from the ENVIN-HELICS registry data (years 1997 to 2008): 1) We studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with CNS-induced PBSI/CRBSI and compared them with those of patients with PBSI/CRBSI caused by other pathogens; and 2) We analyzed the impact of CNS-induced PBSI/CRBSI using a case-control design (1:4) in patients without other nosocomial infections.

Setting: 167 Spanish Intensive Care Units.

[Use of antibiotics for the treatment of multiresistant gram positive cocci infections in critical patients].

Introduction: This study has been designed to know the use of these antibiotics (ATB) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Design And Patients: A multicentric, prospective, observational study was conducted. In cluded as cases were the indications of vancomycin (VAN), teicoplanin (TPN), quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D) and linezolid (LZD).

[Infections caused by Acinetobacter spp. in critically ill ICU patients].

Introduction: To determine the frequency of infections caused by Acinetobacter spp. in critically ill patients admitted to Spanish intensive care units (ICUs) and to assess the clinical features and outcome.

Patients And Method: Prospective, observational, multicenter study.

[Incidence of colonization and infection by Acinetobacter baumannii in an endemic seting (ICU). Analysis of risk factors by means of a surveillance study].

Background: Our ICU has witnessed a gradual increase in infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii complex that has reached a level of stable endemia since 1995. This situation, aggravated by a high degree of resistance, has led to the present prospective study, designed to establish the incidence of Acinetobacter colonization and to investigate the role of risk factors and their relation to environmental colonization.

Methods: Serial sampling of all patients from the time of ICU admission to discharge.