Antimicrobial drug resistance in pathogens causing nosocomial infections at a university hospital in Taiwan, 1981-1999

Abstract

To determine the distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance in bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections, surveillance data on nosocomial infections documented from 1981 to 1999 at National Taiwan University Hospital were analyzed. During this period, 35,580 bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections were identified. Candida species increased considerably, ranking first by 1999 in the incidence of pathogens causing all nosocomial infections, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Candida species also increased in importance as bloodstream infection isolates, from 1.0% in 1981-1986 to 16.2% in 1999. The most frequent isolates from urinary tract infections were Candida species (23.6%), followed by Escherichia coli (18.6%) and P. aeruginosa (11.0%). P. aeruginosa remained the most frequent isolates for respiratory tract and surgical site infections in the past 13 years. A remarkable increase in incidence was found in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (from 4.3% in 1981-1986 to 58.9% in 1993-1998), cefotaxime-resistant E. coli (from 0% in 1981-1986 to 6.1% in 1993-1998), and cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (from 4.0% in 1981-1986 to 25.8% in 1993-1998). Etiologic shifts in nosocomial infections and an upsurge of antimicrobial resistance among these pathogens, particularly those isolated from intensive care units, are impressive and alarming.

Figure 1

Rates of four major nosocomial infections expressed as number of infections per 10,000 patient-days at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1991 to 1999. BSI, bloodstream infection; UTI, urinary tract infection; SSI, surgical site infection; RTI, respiratory tract infection.

Figure 2

Changes in major antimicrobial-resistant nosocomial pathogens in relation to ceftazidime use at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1991 to 1999.

Figure 3

Incidences of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) among all enterococcal isolates causing nosocomial infections in relation to vancomycin use at National Taiwan University Hospital, 1995-1999. Numbers above the bars denote the number of enterococcal isolates causing nosocomial infections. Numbers within the bars denote the numbers of VRE.

Figure 4

Proportions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (A) and Acinetobacter baumannii (B) isolates causing nosocomial infections resistant to imipenem in National Taiwan University Hospital, 1993-1999. ICU = intensive care unit.