Urinary tract colonization and infection in critically ill patients

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for 20-50% of all hospital-acquired infections occurring in the intensive care unit ((CU). In some reports UTI was found to be more frequent than hospital-acquired pneumonia and intravascular device bacteremia, with a greater incidence in developing countries. The risk factors associated with the appearance of UTI include the severity of illness at the time of admission to the ICU, female status, prolonged urinary catheterization or a longer ICU stay and poor urinary catheter management - mainly disconnection of the closed system. about the present study offers data on the epidemiology of UTI in the ICU, the identified risk factors, etiology, diagnosis, impact upon morbidity and mortality, and the measures to prevent its appearance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.