Prevalence and Management of Nosocomial Pathogens in Intensive Care Units of Tertiary Hospitals in Abuja and Kano

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are disproportionately vulnerable to nosocomial infections due to invasive device use, immune compromise, and prolonged hospitalisation, making pathogen prevalence characterisation critical to effective ICU infection management. This study determines the prevalence of nosocomial pathogens in ICUs at two tertiary hospitals in Abuja (North Central) and Kano (North West), covering National Hospital Abuja and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Surveillance cultures were collected from patients' blood, tracheal aspirates, urine catheters, and wound sites over a six-month period, alongside environmental cultures from ICU equipment and surfaces. Pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing followed standard methods. A total of 214 nosocomial infection episodes were recorded across both ICUs, with Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa dominating in Abuja, and Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Kano. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii was documented in 40 percent of Abuja ICU gram-negative isolates. Environmental cultures confirmed persistent pathogen reservoirs on ventilator tubing and infusion pumps in both facilities. The study identifies inadequate environmental decontamination schedules and suboptimal vascular access insertion bundles as key management deficits. Recommendations include ICU care bundles, environmental disinfection audits, and specialist infection control nurse deployment in both ICUs. Keywords: nosocomial infection, ICU, Acinetobacter baumannii, Kano, Abuja