Translating Evidence Into Practice: The Importance of Continuing Local Bacterial Surveillance Even When National Data Are Available

Abstract

Bacterial flora (excluding anaerobes) profile from patient samples in the ICU of Hotel-Dieu de Levis, Quebec, Canada, from 1 January 2004-31 December 2007, was compared against the Canadian National Intensive Care Unit (CAN-ICU) study. Results highlight the difference of local and national surveillance data. The 10 most prevalent bacteria identified in the ICUs were alike. From 2509 specimens obtained, 728 isolates were identified [242 (33.2%) wound, 208 (28.6%) respiratory, 168 (23.1%) urinary, and 110 (15.1%) blood specimens]. In the CAN-ICU study, 50% of all isolates were from respiratory specimens. Moreover, although the percentages of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were comparable [137/728 (18.8%) vs 884/4180 (21.1%)], methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence was higher [67 (9.2%) vs 197 (4.7%)] in Hotel-Dieu de Levis. Overall, the findings in the CAN-ICU surveillance are similar with the results of this study.