Epidemiology and Profile of Pathogens in an Intensive Care Unit of University Hospital Center in Marrakesh, Morocco

Background: Pathogens surveillance and antimicrobial resistance are essential for the prompt organization of therapeutic and preventive action in healthcare settings. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the profile of pathogens isolated among patients admitted to an intensive care unit of a major urban Moroccan city that presented nosocomial infection during their hospitalisation. Results: During the study period, 34 patients developed a nosocomial infection during hospitalisation in ICU. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 18.3 years (range: 18.0 - 86.0 years) and 68% were males. The main diagnoses were multiple trauma injuries (47%) and thermal burns (18%). In terms of morbidities, 9% of the patients presented diabetes. The most common sites were central line-associated bloodstream infection (38%), bloodstream infection (35%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (32%), urinary catheter-related infection (29%), and soft tissue infection (21%). Most frequently isolated pathogens were: Acinetobacter baumani (25%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (12%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus (6%), E. coli (6%), Providencia spp. (6%), Enterococcus faecalis (6%), Raoultella terrigena (4%). Conclusion: The bloodstream was the most common site and Gram-negatives were the most commonly reported causes of ICU infections. The incidence found was high, the mortality was strong, corresponding with that of developing countries. These results will allow to set up a targeted program of prevention and to estimate the efficiency of interventions.