Hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients in Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

One thousand six surgical patients admitted between April 1983 and January 1984 to a hospital in Addis Ababa were studied for incidence of nosocomial infections. On admission, they were carefully examined clinically to exclude community-acquired infections and to determine any underlying risk factors. All patients were closely followed up for detection of developing nosocomial infections. Specimens collected from patients with clinically diagnosed bacterial infections were processed for culture; isolates were identified and tested for susceptibility to the locally used antimicrobial agents. Nosocomial infections were detected in 165 (16.4%) patients. Wound (59%), urinary tract (26%), and respiratory tract (6%) infections accounted for more than 90% of the infections. Fourteen of 18 deaths were attributed to nosocomial infections. About 72% of the patients were given prophylaxis, which was associated with infection (p less than 0.0005). Operations and other procedures were also associated with infection (p less than 0.0005). Anemia was found as a host risk factor (p less than 0.0005). Approximately 90% of the nosocomial pathogens were gram-negative bacteria, of which 84% were Enterobacteriaceae. They were mostly resistant to the commonly used antibiotics. Our findings should create awareness of the problem in this hospital and possibly in others in Addis Ababa and hence prompt measures for effective control.