Nosocomial infection in a newborn is defined as an infection arised after 48-72 hours of hospitalization. The extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates have an increased risk of developing infections (40%)[2], due to the immaturity of the immune system, the prolonged length of hospitalization and the frequent need for invasive procedures (central venous catheters - CVC, mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, prolonged antibiotic therapies). In NICU, sepsis accounted for 45-55% of cases of nosocomial infections, followed by the lower respiratory tract infections (16-33%), skin and soft tissue infections (26.3%), urinary tract infections (8-19%) and meningitis (9.6%) [2]. The gram-positive bacteria are responsible for 65% of infections (Coagulase-negative Staphylococci - CoNS, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp respectively in 50, 35 and 6% of cases), followed by Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, E. Coli ) and fungi in 25% of cases each. Candida albicans is involved in 50% of cases of fungal infections. Viruses are accountable for epidemics in the NICU, but the incidence of viral infections is likely to be underestimated.
Old and new strategies for the prevention of nosocomial infections / Stolfi, Ilaria; Fassi, Carla; Pedicino, Roberto; Giannini, Luigi. - In: THE ITALIAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS. - ISSN 1824-7288. - 41:Suppl 1(2015), p. A43. [10.1186/1824-7288-41-S1-A43]
Old and new strategies for the prevention of nosocomial infections
GIANNINI, Luigi
2015
Abstract
Nosocomial infection in a newborn is defined as an infection arised after 48-72 hours of hospitalization. The extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates have an increased risk of developing infections (40%)[2], due to the immaturity of the immune system, the prolonged length of hospitalization and the frequent need for invasive procedures (central venous catheters - CVC, mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, prolonged antibiotic therapies). In NICU, sepsis accounted for 45-55% of cases of nosocomial infections, followed by the lower respiratory tract infections (16-33%), skin and soft tissue infections (26.3%), urinary tract infections (8-19%) and meningitis (9.6%) [2]. The gram-positive bacteria are responsible for 65% of infections (Coagulase-negative Staphylococci - CoNS, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp respectively in 50, 35 and 6% of cases), followed by Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, E. Coli ) and fungi in 25% of cases each. Candida albicans is involved in 50% of cases of fungal infections. Viruses are accountable for epidemics in the NICU, but the incidence of viral infections is likely to be underestimated.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.