Systematic bacteriological monitoring of intensive care unit patients: the results of a twelve month study.

The results from the bacteriological monitoring of 464 ITU patients are presented. The specimens analysed include urine, sputa, tracheostomy swabs, central venous pressure line catheter tips, blood cultures, wound drainage fluid, cerebro-spinal fluid, pleural fluid and peritoneal dialysate samples. Guidelines which may be used to differentiate between colonisation and infection and factors, notably those related to antibiotic usage, which are associated with increased risk of infection are described. Certain bacterial and fungal infections which are more peculiar to the compromised host are also discussed.