Introduction. Central and peripheral venous catheters are widely used for patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, intravascular devices are known to cause healthcare-associated infections (HAI).
The objective of the study was to characterize the profile of neonatal bloodstream infections in NICU, to improve their prevention.
Materials and methods. A prospective 18-month study was conducted. During the study period, 507 neonates were followed up prospectively. Data on demographic characteristics of the patients, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, imaging studies, etiological agents
isolated from clinical samples (endotracheal aspirates, blood cultures, ear secretions, wound samples), and antimicrobial susceptibility rates were recorded.
Results. During the study period, 13 patients with bloodstream infections were diagnosed. This type of infection ranks second in the distribution of HAI – 23.64% (1.81/ 1000 patient days). In the 13 patients studied, we calculated a mean birth weight of 2735.38±1120.644 grams and a mean gestational age of 36.3±4.96 weeks. The most common laboratory finding in patients with catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) was elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). The leading agent of bloodstream infections was Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus.
Conclusions. CABSI were the second most common HAI in the respective NICU. Future interventions should focus on developing training programs and applying bundles for prevention of CABSI.
Keywords: catheter-associated bloodstream infection, neonate, neonatal intensive care unit, sepsis, nosocomial infections.
Full text sources https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2023.58.1.02
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Address for correspondence:
Vanya RANGELOVA
Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public
Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Address: Blvd Vasil Aprilov 15A, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Email: vanya.rangelova@mu-plovdiv.bg; Phone +35 988 340 36 83
