Staphylococci, catecholamine inotropes and hospital-acquired infections

Abstract

Patients in hospital intensive care units have long been recognized as being at high risk for developing infections from bacteria, fungi, and viruses from within the hospital locality. Risk factors for development of nosocomial infections have usually focussed on the patient’s physical condition and the number and type of invasive medical procedures administered. Using the staphylococci as its focus, this chapter presents recent evidence that some of the medications routinely used in the treatment of acutely ill patients may also be a risk factor for the development of nosocomial infections.