Introduction:

Healthcare-associated infections in individuals hospitalized for external causes pose a challenge for the intensive care unit team. Therefore, determining the causes of these infections during hospitalization can support healthcare planning, with the aim of providing care that promotes the reduction of these infections.

Objective:

To identify factors related to healthcare-associated infections in individuals treated for external causes in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods:

Cross-sectional epidemiological study, drawn from medical records of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a general hospital in the interior of Bahia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson's Chi-square test was used to verify associated factors.

Results:

There was an association between the infection and the variables: race/color (p value= 0.017), type of external cause (p=0.010), nature of the injury (p=0.002), affected body segment (p=0.001), length of stay in the ICU (p<0.001), surgery (p=0.030), vasoactive drugs (p<0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (p<0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation time (p<0.001), acute renal failure ( p=0.001), indwelling urinary catheter (p<0.001), nasoenteral catheter (p<0.001), central venous catheter (p<0.001), invasive blood pressure (p<0.001), pressure injury (p<0.001), and culture (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Identifying factors related to healthcare-associated infections in individuals treated for external causes may contribute to the development of control protocols and techniques aimed at reducing infections in the Intensive Care Unit and ensuring patient safety.