[Nosocomial infections at the University Hospital of Caracas].

Over a period of one year at the University Hospital of Caracas, a program of epidemiological surveillance was carried out on nosocomial infections. A total of 1556 cases were identified in 913 hospitalized patients. The incidence of nosocomial infections was 74 cases per 1000 hospital discharges. Cutaneous, surgical wound, lower respiratory and urinary tract infections were the most frequently identified. The Intensive Care Unit, the Neonatal Pediatric Service and the three Medicine Services recorded more than 50% of the cases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated microorganism, followed by Escherichia coli and by Staphylococcus aureus. Most of the isolated agents were Gram negative bacteria, which present serious problems of resistance to the antimicrobics, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus.