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Are red blood cell transfusions associated with nosocomial infections in critically ill children?
Omar E Naveda Romero1, Andrea F Naveda Meléndez2
1Servicio de Trauma Shock y Estabilización, Hospital Universitario de Pediatría "Dr. Agustín Zubillaga", Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, Venezuela. omarnavedamd@yahoo.com.
Unlabelled:
Although the transfusionofblood products is common practice, its effects on the immune system have not been adequately studied. A prospective cohort study was conducted in critically ill children followed up until their death, transfer or discharge to establish an association between red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) and nosocomial infections. A nosocomial infection was considered to be post-transfusional if it occurred within 14 days after RBCT. A total of 162 children were included in the study, 35 (21.6%) had a nosocomial infection, and 49 (30.2%) received a RBCT. Among those with a nosocomial infection, a RBCT was more common (48.5% versus 14.9%, OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.412.6, p 〈 0.0001) and mortality rate was higher (45.7% versus 10.2%, OR: 7.4, 95% CI: 3.1-18.2, p 〈 0.0001). The binary logistic regression showed that RBCT was independently associated with nosocomial infections (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.1-20.2, p = 0.049).
Conclusion:
RBCT was associated with increased risk for nosocomial infections.
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