Abstract
Incidence of nosocomial infections gradually increase in patients over 65 years age population. There is a significant relationship between increased age and predisposition to nosocomial infections.
Predisposition to infections in this age group is a result of impaired host defense, underlying chronic diseases, long-term hospitalization, steroids and immunosuppressive therapies and malnutrition. Nevertheless there is not much data about the incidence and risk factors of nosocomial infections in elderly population. In this study we aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for nosocomial infections and the factors affecting mortality rates in elderly patients in the medical intensive care units.
Nosocomial infection is an important factor causes increased mortality rate and length of hospital stay. Mortality rates and time interval between admission and discharge is significantly higher in nosocomially infected group than others. There are several known independent risk factors for increased mortality rates include increased age and length of hospital stay, impaired conscious levels, co-morbidities, nosocomial infections, immunsupresive conditions such as malnutrition, malignancies, mechanic ventilation and/or central venous catheter usage.
As a result nosocomial infection is an important and partially preventable risk factor for mortality among patients treated in intensive care units. Mechanical ventilation, central venous and/or urinary catheterizations are such invasive interventions that may cause higher nosocomial infection rates. In terms of decreasing nosocomial infection rates; less frequently used invasive interventions can help in achieving this purpose of treatment. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2015;5(1): 38-43

Key words: Nosocomial infection, elderly, intensive care unit, mortality, risk factors