[Epidemiology of nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit]

Newborns who are admitted to neonatal intensive care units are at a high risk for the development of a nosocomial infection. The purpose of this study was to record the incidence and the type of nosocomial infections, the isolated microorganisms and the susceptibility profile of these newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit.

A descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted over a 1-year period. Out of 113 newborns with nosocomial infection, demographic variables, antibiotic use prior to admission, central venous catheter use, type of nosocomial infection, isolated microorganism and susceptibility profile were recorded.

One hundred and forty nine nosocomial infection episodes were recorded, with an incidence of 37.7 × 100 discharges and an incidence density rate of 25.6 × 1000 patient-days. The most common nosocomial infections were central venous catheter colonization related bacteremia (35.5 %) and sepsis (28.8 %). The most common microorganisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (43.4 %) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (21 %), out of which 97.3 % were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producers.

The incidence of nosocomial infection was similar to that reported in developing countries. Central venous catheter colonization-related bacteremia and gram-positive bacteria were the most common nosocomial infection and causative microorganisms, respectively.