Bacterial Nosocomial Infection: Experience of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of Marrakech

Abstract

Background and AimNosocomial infections are one of the major causes of morbidity in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Known risk factors include birth weight, gestational age, severity of illness and its related length of stay, and instrumentation.Objective:The purpose of this article is to determine the occurrence of Nosocomial Infections (NIs), including infection rates, main infection sites, and common microorganisms.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted between June 2015 and December 2016.Results:The incidence of nosocomial infection was 16%. The primary reasons for admission were intauterin growth retardation (52.5%).Klebsiella Pneumoniaewas the most commonly identified agent in the blood cultures and in the hospital unit (43.6%). The mortality rate from nosocomial infection was 52.6%. The proportion of infected newborns with a lower than normal birth weight was predominant (58.13%).Conclusion:Thus, prevention of bacterial infection is crucial in these settings of unique patients. In this view, improving neonatal management is a key step, and this includes promotion of breast-feeding and hygiene measures.

The Risk of Neonatal Healthcare-Associated Infections at Three Teaching Hospitals in Rwanda

“…[8] Bloodstream infections are the most prevalent HCAIs in NICU and they can occur alone or in conjunction with organ dysfunction. [9] Some factors were found to be associated with HCAI, including prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), patient being on ventilation machines, venepuncture, hypoxia and feeding intolerance which pose a significantly higher risk of getting HCAIs compared to neonates in different conditions, [10] HCAIs threaten neonatal health, [11] Whereby neonates, especially preterm are mostly affected because they are frequently subjected to invasive treatments and rely on central catheters for nourishment and ventilators for breathing assistance. [12,13] Furthermore, weakened immune system, function barriers of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures catheterassociated infections, cross transmission of multi-resistant bacteria (e.g.…”