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Infectious complications in critically injured children

J C Patel1, D L Mollitt, J J Tepas

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Health Science Center Jacksonville, 32209-6511, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|August 17, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Infections are common in critically injured children, with most being hospital-acquired and device-related. Prevention strategies are crucial for this vulnerable pediatric trauma population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Trauma surgery
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Infection is a known complication in injured adults, but data on pediatric trauma patients are limited.
  • Trauma is a leading cause of mortality in children, highlighting the need to understand associated complications.
  • This study focuses on infectious complications in critically injured children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of infectious complications in critically injured children.
  • To identify common pathogens and sources of infection in this population.
  • To assess the impact of infection on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit at an urban level-1 trauma center over 80 months.
  • Infection defined by Centers for Disease Control criteria.
  • Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were collected and analyzed using t-tests or chi-squared analysis.

Main Results:

  • 523 children were studied, with 53 experiencing 78 infections (10.1% incidence).
  • Nosocomial infections (78%) predominated, mostly device-associated (85%). Common sites included lower respiratory and bloodstream infections.
  • Infected children had higher injury severity scores (ISS 24 vs. 17) and longer hospital stays (21 vs. 6 days) but similar mortality rates (5.7%) compared to uninfected children.

Conclusions:

  • Infection is a significant cause of morbidity in critically injured children.
  • Nosocomial infections, particularly device-related ones, are prevalent.
  • Enhanced preventive measures are essential for this high-risk pediatric trauma group.
Abstract

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