Incidence and pathogens of nosocomial bacteremia in China

Objective To investigate the incidence and pathogens of nosocomial bacteremia (NB) in China. Methods The data of incidence and pathogens of NB reported from Jun 1998 to Dec 2001 by the hospitals of the Chinese nosocomial infections surveillance system (CNISS) were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 4 882 364 patients were surveyed and 2 371 cases of NB were reported. The incidence rate of NB was 48.6/100 000, accounting for 1.3% of nosocomial infection. The incidence of bacteremia was higher in units of hematology,infectious disease, neonatology, and burns, and among the surgical patients with contaminated wound. 1 757 strains of pathogens had been isolated, among which 585 (33.3%) were gram-positive bacteria, 962(54.8%) gram-negative bacteria, 186 (10.6%) fungi,and 24 (1.4%) other pathogens. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (17.2%), Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS 13.4%), fungi (10.6%), Klebsiella (9.1%),Staphylococcus aureus (8.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.8%), and Enterobactor (6.3%) spp. Conclusion Patients in unit of hematology, infectious diseases, burns and neonatology and surgical patients with class III incision have higher incidence of nosocomial bacteremia. Gram-negative bacteria were the prominent pathogens, the most common pathogens were E. coli, CoNS, fungi, Klebsiella, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobactor spp.