To investigate the nosocomial infection rate, pathogens and underlying risk factors in an intensive care unit (ICU) and provide evidence to improve quality of infection control.

Surveillance was conducted in ICU patients from January 2014 to December 2015. Underlying risk factors of nosocomial infection was analyzed by binary logistic regression.

A total of 981 patients was collected. 104 nosocomial infections were recorded in 100 patients. The overall incidence of nosocomial infection and infection rate were 10.19% and 10.60% respectively. Compared with the data in 2014, a trend of decrease in nosocomial infection incidence and infection rate was concluded. In particular, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly reduced by 5.78 ‰. Both in 2014 and 2015, ventilator-associated pneumonia was the primary nosocomial infection type, accounting for more than 55% nosocomial infections. Chi-square test of underlying factors of nosocomial infection indicated that, age, invasive ventilation, insertion of urinary catheter and use of antibiotics are associated risk factors for nosocomial infection in ICU (P<0.05). Non-conditional logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that, the use of ventilator and antibiotics were independent risk factors for nosocomial infection (OR=3.692, 95%CI: 3.829-7.027, P=0.012; OR=1.756, 95%CI: 1.191-2.590, P=0.000; OR=3.457, 95%CI: 2.019-5.971, P=0.000). Gram negative bacterium was still the major nosocomial pathogen in ICU. The primary isolated gram negative bacteria was Acinetobacter baumannii, but with a decreased isolation rate of 10.89% in 2015 compared with 2014.

Management and quality control of nosocomial infection in ICU had improved in 2015. At the same time, reasonable antibiotic stewardship could reduce nosocomial infection, particular for geriatric patients.