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Infections acquired by young infants
Insights
Hospitalized infants acquiring infections, especially in intensive care, face significant risks. Community-acquired infections differ from hospital-acquired infections, with the latter often involving more antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Hospitalized young infants are susceptible to infections.
- Antimicrobial therapy is frequently used for suspected community-acquired infections in this population.
- Infection rates vary significantly based on nursery admission type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey infections in hospitalized young infants over 24 months.
- To compare infection rates between normal-newborn nurseries and intensive care nurseries.
- To identify pathogens associated with community-acquired versus nosocomial infections.
Main Methods:
- Prospective survey of 7,339 hospitalized infants over 24 months.
- Documentation of antimicrobial therapy duration for suspected infections.
- Comparison of infection acquisition rates based on nursery type.
- Pathogen identification for community-acquired and nosocomial infections.
Main Results:
- Nearly 10% of infants received 5+ days of antimicrobial therapy.
- Infection rates were 0.6/100 in normal-newborn nurseries vs. 16.9/100 in intensive care nurseries.
- Bacteremia was frequent with nosocomial infections.
- Community-acquired infections were primarily caused by streptococci and susceptible Enterobacteriaceae.
- Nosocomial infections involved more antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Conclusions:
- Infants in intensive care nurseries have a substantially higher risk of acquiring infections.
- Distinct pathogens are associated with community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections in infants.
- Hospital-acquired pathogens demonstrate increased antibiotic resistance compared to community-acquired ones.
Abstract:
Infections occurring among hospitalized young infants were surveyed for 24 months. Almost 10% of the 7,339 infants received antimicrobial therapy for five or more days for suspected community-acquired infections. Infants admitted directly to the normal-newborn nursery acquired infections at a rate of 0.6 per 100, whereas infants admitted to intensive care nurseries acquired infections at a rate of 16.9 per 100 infants. Bacteremia in association with nosocomial infection occurred frequently. The pathogens associated with community-acquired and nosocomial infections are different. Species of streptococci and relatively antibiotic-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae predominate as pathogens associated with infections in previously nonhospitalized infants. Organisms acquired in the hospital tend to be more antibiotic resistant.