Prevention and control of infection in the ICU

A disproportionate number of hospital-acquired infections are acquired from the intensive care unit (ICU). The ICU can act as a source from which these infections are disseminated around the hospital. Many of these infections are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. As a result, significantly morbidity and mortality arises. In this review, the factors that contribute to the development of infection within the ICU, particularly with multi-resistant organisms, are examined, and various strategies to prevent or control the problem are discussed.