Incidence and type of post-stroke hospital infections in the elderly and its impact on hospital length of stay and mortality

Abstract

The aging population is a worldwide phenomenon, leading to economic, social and health sector changes. There is a direct association between the life expectancy and chronic diseases. Stroke is the second largest cause of death and leading cause of disability worldwide. Brazil is the 6th country with the highest rate of stroke mortality and the first in the Latin America. Some factors such as infection acquired post-stroke are associated with worse prognosis. The aim of this study is to characterize the elderly hospitalized with acute stroke, to determine the incidence of major nosocomial infections, the impact of these infections on prognosis, in the use of antibiotics and in the length of hospital stay. We will carry out a prospective cohort study that will include all patients with acute stroke admitted to the intensive care units and to the wards of university associated Hospital of Marilia Medical School. It will be used standardized instrument for data collection. These participants will be monitored since their admission until discharge or death. There are few studies similar to this in Brazil. It is expected that the results can help determine the risk of infection among in hospital elderly patients with stroke in a public university hospital and subsidize control measures program to reduce its occurrence, the impact on mortality and healthcare costs. (AU)