Epidemiology and risk factors of intensive care unit-acquired infections: a prospective multicentre cohort study in a middle-income country.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of infections among patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in tertiary care hospitals in Turkey.

Methods: Adult patients who were admitted to the ICUs of five tertiary care hospitals for over 48 hours between June and December 2007 were monitored daily. Potential risk factors such as age, gender, comorbidities, diagnosis at admission, severity of disease (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores), exposure to antibiotics, history of invasive procedures and significant medical interventions were evaluated.