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Infections in hospitalised Russian children with AIDS
N Makarova1, O Yurin, V Pokrovsky
1Russia AIDS Centre, Ulitsa Socolinoy Gory, Moscow, Russia.
Insights
Common oral infections like Candida albicans were prevalent in hospitalized children with AIDS in Russia. The study suggests these infections may spread within the hospital, highlighting the need for better infection control for immunocompromised patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric HIV/AIDS
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Children with AIDS are highly susceptible to infections.
- Hospital environments can harbor pathogens that pose risks to immunocompromised individuals.
- Understanding common infections and transmission routes is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify prevalent infections in hospitalized children with AIDS.
- To determine the causative pathogens of these infections.
- To investigate potential nosocomial transmission within a Russian AIDS hospital.
Main Methods:
- Sample collection from children with AIDS, mothers, and healthcare workers.
- Microbiological analysis of infection sites and hospital objects.
- Epidemiological typing of key pathogens including Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Main Results:
- Oral infections were the most common in the study group.
- Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli were frequently isolated.
- Epidemiological data suggested nosocomial transmission of identified strains.
Conclusions:
- Current chemoprophylaxis for opportunistic oral infections needs revision.
- Enhanced microbiological surveillance and cross-infection control are essential.
- Reducing nosocomial transmission is critical for immunocompromised pediatric patients.
Objectives:
(1) To determine the most common infections in hospitalised children with AIDS. (2) To identify the pathogens causing the above infections. (3) To investigate the possibility of nosocomial transmission of potential pathogens in a Russian AIDS hospital.
Setting:
Russian AIDS Hospital for Children.
Subjects And Methods:
Swabs/samples of skin, mouth, nose, urine and stool were collected from 95 hospitalised children with AIDS, 12 of their mothers and 11 health care workers in contact with the children. Hospital objects were also sampled. The predominant isolates from the infection sites were speciated. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles, phagotyping and gel electrophoresis of cell lysates were used for the epidemiological marking of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Results:
Oral infections were the most prevalent infections in this study group. The most frequently isolated micro-organisms were C. albicans, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The results of the epidemiological study suggests nosocomial transmission of these strains.
Conclusions:
The present chemoprophylaxis programme for opportunistic oral infections requires revision. Systems of microbiological surveillance and cross-infection control monitoring in relation to immunocompromised patients need to be developed to decrease the possibility of nosocomial transmission of potential pathogens between hospitalised children with AIDS, their mothers and health care providers.