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Association between climate and Enterobacter colonization in Swedish neonatal units
B A Fryklund1, K Tullus, L G Burman
1Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|October 1, 1993
Summary
Enterobacter species colonization in neonatal units is influenced by external factors, not just hospital conditions. Warmer climates were associated with higher carriage rates in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Enterobacter species colonization rates vary significantly across neonatal units.
- Understanding colonization risk factors is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with Enterobacter species colonization in Swedish neonatal units.
- To investigate the influence of ward and hospital environmental factors on colonization rates.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 953 infants across 22 special-care neonatal units.
- Fecal Enterobacter species carriage rates were correlated with ward (size, crowding, staffing, workload, antibiotic use, care level, hygiene) and hospital (water temperature, location) variables.
Main Results:
- Average Enterobacter species carriage peaked at 17% in infants at seven days of age, declining to 3%.
- Multivariate analysis revealed that hospital location in a warmer climate zone was significantly associated with Enterobacter species carriage (P = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Extrahospital factors, particularly climate, appear to play a more significant role in Enterobacter species occurrence in neonatal units than intrahospital factors.
- Findings suggest a need to consider broader environmental influences on neonatal colonization.