Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives: Despite decades of dramatic progress in their treatment and prevention, infectious diseases remain a major cause of death and debility responsible for worsening the living conditions of millions of people around the world. This study was conducted to determine the epidemiologic features of patients admitted with infectious disases at Kamkar Hospital in Qom.

Methods: A routine data base study was carried out to obtain relevant data from medical records of patients admitted with infectious diseases at the Kamkar Hospital during summer 2007. The epidemiologic features of patients were obtained and analyzed using chi-square, t-test and Mann Whitney statistical tests.

Results: Out of 2907 admitted cases at the Kamkar hospital 331 (11.3%) pertained to infectious diseases.

The most frequent infections were urinary tract infection, septicemia and pneumonia; 61cases (18.4%), 48cases (14.5%) and 45cases (13.6%), respectively.

The most common involved systems were respiratory tract and urogenital tract, with each one having 73cases (22.05%).

Conclusion: This study confirms the continuing importance of infectious diseases especially urinary tract infection, septicemia and pneumonia in Qom, which requires more research to be done to better identify their epidemiology and pathogenesis.