Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Infection at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand (2008 to 2013)
Phokhaphan P, PhD1, Kondo S, PhD1, Tingpej P, MD, PhD1, Apisarnthanarak A, MD2
Affiliation : 1 Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Hospital-acquired infections mainly are caused by bacteria and have increased globally. The causative agents include Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin- resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Enterococci spp. Treatment has become more complicated; therefore, effective surveillance is essential in preventing spread. The authors investigated the epidemiology of strains isolated from Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand. Our results indicated a gradual increase in infected patients with hospital-acquired bacteria at Thammasat University Hospital. The highest number of infections was found in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 2013 (14.73%). Infections of less than 10% were also found in other units: Neonatal Intensive Care, General Male Internal Medicine, General Male Surgery, General Female Surgery, and Surgical Intensive Care. A. baumannii (MDR), P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae (ESBL), E. coli (ESBL), Candida albicans, and MRSA were frequently detected. Urinary tract infections were the most common, from E. coli (ESBL), E. coli, C. albicans, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. Even if strains are not yet resistant, medical personnel should be vigilant and prevent patient-to- patient infection.
Keywords : Hospital-acquired infections, Bacterial infections, Antibiotic resistance
