Abstract
Background
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can pose significant risks to patients with cardiovascular disease due to the compromised nature of their health and potential vulnerabilities. In order to reduce the incidence of HAIs and prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms, it is mandatory to develop surveillance systems.
Methods
We undertook a retrospective case–control study of all patients presenting HAIs who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to assess risk factors associated with death among patients with cardiovascular disease.
Results
Patients admitted to the ICU who died were more likely to present an infection with a multidrug-resistant bacterium, an infection with Acinetobacter baumannii, and to suffer from acute myocardial infarction. Among the patients enrolled in the study, a higher probability of death was also observed in association with certain Gram-negative pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Conclusion
The longer the patient remains admitted in the ICU, the higher the risk of acquiring an infection that can often become fatal. A nosocomial infection, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease, also increases the length of hospitalization, which will lead to increased expenditure. For this reason, new prophylactic methods and therapeutic approaches are needed, and researchers’ efforts should be directed in this direction.