A Retrospective Cohort Study of Nosocomial Diarrhea as a Risk Factor for Nosocomial Infection

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Because most nosocomial infections are caused by enteric flora, it was undertaken to determine whether diarrhea predisposes to nosocomial infections by conducting a retrospective cohort study involving patients with and without nosocomial diarrhea who were hospitalized during a 12-month period.The rate of urinary tract infection per person-day after onset of diarrhea was significantly greater in patients with diarrhea (relative risk = 10.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.7–63.1, P = .006). When indwelling bladder catheter and duration of catheter placement were considered, diarrhea remained an independent risk factor for urinary tract infection in logistic regression analysis (P = .009). These data suggest that diarrhea and consequent urethral meatal contamination may be a cause of nosocomial urinary tract infection, especially in patients with a catheter, and that removal of the catheter should beconsidered whenever possible in patients with diarrhea.