A retrospective analysis of 1590 cases with tumor performed by the tumor treatment center of Xijing Hospital affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University revealed that measures for diminution of nosocomial infection should begin with the reduction of the risk factors of the patients suffering from tumors.
Three hundred and sixteen cases among the 1590 cases of tumor conditions admitted in between June, 1997 and June, 2000 had nosocomial infections, giving an infection rate of 19.48 %; of them, the infection occurred once in 192 cases, twice in 90 and thrice or more in 34. Most of the cases had respiratory tract infections (179 cases), followed by infection of the digestive tract (46 cases), urinary tract (41 cases) and infection of other parts of the body (20 cases).
The risk factors of nosocomial infection as analyzed by the researchers were: 1. the regime of chemotherapy-- massive dosage of chemotherapy resulted in damage of the human body in the form of ulcerations and erosions of the mucous membrane, and the chances of nosocomial infections increased along with the intensity of radiotherapy. 2. leukopenia - statistical analysis of nosocomial infection according to leukocyte count showed that the rates of infection in patients with leukocyte count of ≥4.0x109/L, (4.0~1.0)x109/L, ≤1.0x109/L were respectively 5.93 %, 10.96 % and 21.26 %; the rate of infection increased along with the decrease of leukocyte count. 3. the period of hospitalization-among the patients admitted for less than 30 days the nosocomial infection rate was 26 % and those admitted for more than 30 days the figure was 64.23 %, demonstrating a significant statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.001). 4. The administration of antibiotics -- the nosocomial infection rate in all the patients received only one kind of antibiotics was 9.25 % and in those received more than two kinds of broad spectrum antibiotics the figure was 36.12 % and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0.001).
The researchers considered that rational use of antibiotics was of paramount importance for the prevention and treatment of nosocomial infection; the antibiotics should be selected as much as possible according to the results of antibiotic sensitivity tests. The prophylaxis or long term use of antibiotics should be avoided. Simultaneously, strict regime of aseptic technique, disinfection and isolation must be respected to avoid cross infection; protective measures and supportive therapy are mandatory for those patients receiving immunosupressive agents and radio-chemotherapy.
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