High prevalence of nosocomial infections in rehabilitation units accounted for by urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injury

This study (part of the nationwide French prevalence survey of 2001) was organized to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of nosocomial infections (NIs) and the resistant flora in patients hospitalized in rehabilitation units. Two hundred and eighty-six patients were included from two hospitals in the ‘Hospices Civils de Lyon’ group. Patients were classified into those with and without a spinal cord injury (SCI). Seventy-eight (27.3%) patients had an SCI. They were younger and more often characterized by a low Activity of Daily Life score, bladder incontinence and chronic respiratory disease. Urinary catheterization and mechanical ventilation were more common in these patients. The NI prevalence rate was higher in the SCI group (21.8% vs 4.3%, P