Reduction of urinary tract infections acquired in an intensive care unit during a 10-year surveillance program

Purpose To describe trends of urinary catheter-related infections (UCRIs) acquired by patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) in relation with an infection control program. Materials and methods Prospective surveillance in one ICU of a university hospital in Lyon (France) between 1995 and 2004. Results A 66% reduction of urinary catheter-related infections (UCRIs) acquired by patients hospitalized was observed between 1995 and 2004 after adjustement on age, gender, antibiotic use at admission, and duration of exposure to urinary catheter. Conclusions These results, obtained by continuous epidemiological monitoring of nosocomial infections, are encouraging with regard to the improvement of infection control measures and the evolution of medical practices. Further studies in ICUs are needed to confirm this trend.