Infections in critically ill patients exact a high price in morbidity and mortality.
Because of significant underlying disease processes and deranged physiologic status,
critically ill patients are more susceptible to infection and are also more likely
to have an adverse outcome from infection. Critically ill patients have multiple breaches
in host defense—central venous lines, endotracheal tubes, surgical wounds, nasogastric
tubes, and indwelling urinary catheters may all breach mucocutaneous barriers. A significant
proportion of critically ill patients also will be immunocompromised by neutropenia,
iatrogenic immunosuppression for transplantation or automimmune disease, or acquired
immunodeficiency due to HIV infection.
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