Nosocomial infections in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit: a 4-year surveillance study

Report the incidence of nosocomial infections, causative microorganisms, risk factors associated with and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in the NICU of the Uberlândia University Hospital.

Data were collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance from January 2006 to December 2009. The patients were followed five times/week from their birth to their discharge or death.

The study included 1,443 patients, 209 of these developed NIs, totaling 293 NI episodes, principally bloodstream infections (203; 69.3%) and conjunctivitis (52; 17.7%). Device-associated infection rates were as follows: 17.3 primary bloodstream infections per 1,000 central line-days and 3.2 pneumonias per 1000 ventilator-days. The mortality rate in neonates with NI was 11.9%. Mechanical ventilation, total parenteral nutrition, orogastric tube, previous antibiotic therapy, use of CVC and birth weight of 751-1,000g appeared to be associated with a significantly higher risk of NI (p < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis for NI, mechanical ventilation and the use of CVC were independent risk factors (p < 0.05). Coagulase- negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (36.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (23.6%) were the most common etiologic agents isolated from cultures. The incidences of oxacillin-resistant CoNS and S. aureus were 81.8% and 25.3%, respectively.

Frequent surveillance was very important to evaluate the association of these well-known risk factors with NIs and causative organisms, assisting in drawing the attention of health care professionals to this potent cause of morbidity.