Abstract:ObjectiveTo realize the status and causes of catheterassociated nosocomial infection (CANI) in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) , so as to decrease the incidence by taking proper measures.MethodsSix hundred and fifteen patients with catheters in SICU between 2005 and 2009 were monitored prospectively, including the occurrence of CANI, patients’ age, length of hospital stay, invasive procedures, and pathogens.ResultsOne hundred and ninetyseven of 615 patients (32.03%) developed CANI, and CANI rate was 2.60%,12.85% and 56.40% in patients with 1 kind , 2 or 3 kinds of catheters simultaneously respectively, there were significant difference among three groups (χ2=151.55,P<0.001). The rate of ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP), catheterassociated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) , and central venous catheter (CVC)associated bloodstream infection (CVCBSI) per 1 000 catheter days was 15.51, 13.70 and 5.79 respectively. The average catheter utilization days before the occurrence of CANI were as follows: ventilator (12.22±11.29) days, urinary catheter (13.09±13.29) days , CVC (20.64±18.39) days respectively. The major pathogen in VAP , CAUTI and CVCBSI was Acinetobacter spp.(18.80%), Candida albicans (36.46%) and Acinetobacter spp.(18.75%) respectively.ConclusionPatients with more catheters , long hospital stay and long duration of catheters are prone to develop nosocomial infection . The key to the prevention of emerging of drugresistant strain and decrease in NI are strengthening of disinfection and isolation, shortening the time of catheter retaining, implementing hand hygiene, and using antimicrobial drug rationally.