Incidence and risk factors for Gram negative infections among adult ICU patients -A prospective observational study

This study aims to determine how common Gram-negative infections are among adults admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to identify the factors that increase the risk of developing these infections. Gram-negative bacteria are a major cause of serious hospital-acquired infections and are often resistant to multiple antibiotics, making treatment difficult for critically ill patients.

The study will be conducted as a prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital ICU. Adult patients will be followed from the time of ICU admission until discharge or death. Clinical details, comorbidities, severity scores, use of invasive devices, antibiotic exposure, and microbiological results will be recorded. Whenever an infection is suspected, appropriate samples will be collected and processed according to standard guidelines.

The incidence of Gram-negative infections will be calculated, and potential risk factors will be analyzed to determine which variables independently increase the likelihood of infection. The study will also describe the bacterial spectrum, antibiotic resistance patterns, and outcomes such as ICU stay, need for organ support, and mortality. The findings may help improve infection control and guide empirical antibiotic policies in ICUs