Devices associated infections (DAIs) have major impact on patient morbidity. This study was aimed to evaluate the active prospective surveillance to measure the prevalence of three common DAIs like catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and intra vascular catheter related bloodstream infection (IV-CRBSI) in different ICUs/wards in a tertiary care centre. Urine was collected by aspiration of the catheter in CAUTI, endotracheal aspirate in VAP, catheter tips and blood samples in IVCRBSI were collected and processed as per the standard microbiological techniques. Descriptive analysis of the data was done and DAI rate was expressed as number of DAI per 1000 device days.  The overall infection rate for CAUTI, VAP, IV-CRBSI were found to be 7.03, 34.84 and 0.47 per 1000 device days, respectively. Major organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,. Most of them were multi drug resistant.  High rates of DAIs and antimicrobial resistance require strengthening the infection control, instituting surveillance systems, and implementing evidence-based preventive strategies.

Keywords: Devices associated infections, multi drug resistant, urinary tract infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia.

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Prof Dr K.V Suseela

Professor and HOD, Department of Microbiology Amala Institute of Medical Sciences Thrissur, Kerala, India, Mobile-8606398463