Nosocomial candidemia in burn care unit at a tertiary care hospital in north India.

Dr Nahid Nahvi; Dr Saqib Rishi; Dr Iqra Majid

Volume : VIII, Issue : IV, April - 2019

Nosocomial candidemia in burn care unit at a tertiary care hospital in north India.

Dr Nahid Nahvi, Dr Saqib Rishi, Dr Iqra Majid

Abstract :

Background : Nosocomial infection affect 1 in 10 patients admitted to hospital, they are associated with prolonged hospital stay, mortality and health care costs.Infections are a leading cause of mortality (75% of cases) in these patients. Candidemia is the 4th cause of bloodstream infection, occurring more frequently in ICU than in hospital wards.Material and Method : This prospective study was conducted in Department of Microbiology GMC Srinagar, for period of 1 year.Patients admitted to burn unit and manifesting the signs and symptoms of nosocomial infections (as defined by CDC criteria) were included. Blood samples were collected using standard techniques for culture and identification. Positive isolates were confirmed using conventional biochemical tests.Result : Blood stream infection was seen in 20 % of patients[20/100]. 30.98 % sustained third degree burns. Majority of patients had major burns (60.56%). Out of total (106) blood samples processed 81.13% showed no growth (sterile) and only 18.16% showed growth of organism. Candida spp was isolated from 10% (2/20) of positive cultures.90% of positive blood cultures showed bacterial isolates while as 10%(2/20) were candida albicans. 2% patients developed nosocomial Candidemia. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that nosocomial candidemia in burn patients is a substantial problem in our setting. Delay in its diagnosis could be minimized by more active screening for candidemia especially in Intensive care units. Efforts should be directed to limit risk factors and microbiological laboratories should provide in time diagnosis which will go a long way in appropriating antifungal therapy and improving patient care.