NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS IN A SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT IBN ROCHD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, CASABLANCA

Background: Nosocomial infections remain a major public health issue in intensive care units because of their impact on morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial exposure, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Objective: To determine the prevalence, anatomical distribution, bacteriological profile, antimicrobial resistance pattern, treatment characteristics, and outcome of nosocomial infections in a surgical intensive care unit. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study over six months, from January 1 to July 1, 2022, in the surgical intensive care unit of Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca. All patients hospitalized for more than 48 hours were eligible. Nosocomial infection was defined as an infection occurring at least 48 hours after admission and not present or incubating at admission. Percentages were preserved from the reference dataset and absolute numbers were recalculated to fit a cohort of 200 patients.