did not develop nosocomial infections. We collected demographic data, patient provenience (emergency department (ED), cardiology or medicine ward, general intensive care units (ICU), outpatient clinic or other hospitals), diagnosis of admission, duration of hospitalization and destination of the patient (ambulatory, cardiology ward or death). Results: From a total of 1633 patients admitted to the CCIU, 150 patients (9.1%) developed nosocomial infections, of which 40,0% were respiratory, 26,7%

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... re urinary, 16,0% presented fever with no identified infectious focus, 14,0% were severe sepsis and septic shock, and 3.3% had another etiology. These patients were older (72,4±11,8 vs 67,7±14,2 years, p=0,001), with no differences between genders. The majority of patients in both groups were admitted from the ED (Group 1: 56,0% vs 57,9%, p = ns); however, Group 1 patients were more frequently admitted from other ICU (17,3% vs 8,8%, p=0.002), and less frequently from the outpatient clinic (2,7% vs 9,7%, p=0,014), p=0,006). The primary diagnosis of admission was acute coronary syndrome in both groups (Group 1: 53,3% vs 52,8%, p=ns); however, Group 1 patients were more frequently admitted for decompensated heart failure (6,.7% vs. 6,4%, p=0,001) and cardiogenic shock (6,0% vs 0,6%, p=0.001), there were no differences in the nosological groups of arrhythmias or valvular diseases. Patients with nosocomial infection had longer duration of hospitalization (6,8±5,2 vs 3,0±2,0 days, p=0,01), higher mortality (9.3% vs 3.0%, p=0,001), and lower direct discharge to ambulatory (4,7% vs 15,8%, p=0,001). Conclusions: Nosocomial infections in a CCIU are frequent, being presented in 9.1% of the patients admitted in our CCIU, with respiratory infections being the most prevalent. Its incidence appears to be higher in older patients, in patients admitted for heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Nosocomial infections were associated with a 2.3-fold increase in hospitalization days and 3-fold increase in mortality.