In a 6-year retrospective study the occurrence of autopsy-confirmed nosocomial infections in 282 deceased patients of an intensive care unit was investigated. The autopsy rate was 100%. In 107 deceased (37.9%) 126 nosocomial infections were confirmed. The most common nosocomial infection was bronchopneumonia (54%). The main ailment was non-tumorous diseases of the digestive system (43.9%). In nearly 60% of the 107 deaths, nosocomial infections were the immediate cause of death. In all 282 deceased, hospital infections were the direct cause of death in 22.7% of these cases. The study emphasizes the importance of nosocomial infections as a causal or contributory factor in the death of patients in an intensive care unit.