Cross infection inintensive care units

No health care is free of risks and possible adverse events that may occur to those who undergo such care. Among the possible complications resulting from health care, cross infection (CI) stand out. Its incidence is higher in developing countries, where problems with human resources, technical expertise and laboratory support hinder infection control policies. Many individuals become susceptible to infections within a hospital setting, especially those patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) where invasive procedures are routine. CI still appear as a frequent complication in hospitalized patients and in ICUs this occurrence may be even higher, since invasive procedures are maintained longer and the patient has a higher chance of colonization. The consequences of CI may become more pronounced when the etiological agents have an antimicrobial resistance profile. The World Health Organization (WHO) together with the Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) have been encouraging studies on the different repercussions of CI related to bacterial resistance. Some authors report that one of the first steps for planning actions and implementing effective institutional policies for the prevention and control of CI is to know its profile in the institutions.