Healthcare-associated infections in pediatric intensive care unit of El-Mahalla general hospital

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

2 Pediatrics Department, El-Mahalla General Hospital, Gharbia, Egypt

3 Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly contribute to elevated healthcare expenditures, enhanced morbidity, and increased mortality rates. Patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) exhibit heightened susceptibility to HAIs. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and types of HAIs and their contribution to PICU mortality and morbidity.  Also, it aimed to assess possible sources of infection in the environment and health care workers (HCWs). Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on healthcare-associated infections in all admissions to the Department of PICU of El-Mahala General Hospital during the study period. HAIs were delineated in accordance with the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Standardized microbiological methodologies were employed for their identification. All PICU healthcare workers were subjected to nasal and under-finger nails cultures and inanimate objects. Results: A cohort of 211 patients was examined. Among these, 35 patients experienced 41 episodes of bacterial healthcare-associated infections. The incidence rate of HAIs was 19.4 per 100 PICU admissions, with an incidence density of 25.7 per 1000 PICU days. Notably, all identified HAIs were associated with medical devices. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was the predominant type, constituting 43.9% of cases, followed by central line-associated bloodstream infections at 31.7%, bloodstream infections at 14.6%, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections at 9.8%. The most commonly isolated organisms were MDR-Gram-negative bacteria (56.1%), mainly Klebsiella (21.9%). Conclusions: Healthcare-associated infections constitute a significant problem in PICU, mostly due to multidrug resistant bacteria. It is significantly correlated with morbidity and mortality in PICU.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics