Nosocomial infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatria

Introduction. The characteristics of patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) differ from those of other units; these features will account for a higher susceptibility to develop a nosocomial infection (NI). Objective. To describe the epidemiology of NI in the NICU. Methods. We reviewed data of patients admitted to the NICU of the INP in 2007, based on the definitions of the NOM IN SSA2 045 2004 for epidemiological surveillance, prevention and control of nosocomial infections in Mexico. We described number, type, incidence rates of IN and patients' characteristics. Results. Of 318 patients admitted, 37 presented with 42 IN events. The rate of NI was 11.6 infections per 100 patients and the mortality rate was 2.4 per 100 IN. The most frequent were bloodstream infections, 23 (54.8%); pneumonia 11 (26.2%) often associated with mechanical ventilation. 30% of the bloodstream infections were related to intravenous catheter. Conclusion. This report shows that the incidence of NI is higher in patients with increased susceptibility at intensive care unit and often related to the use of invasive procedures; therefore these procedures should be limited for very specific situations. General hygiene should be mandatory in order to reduce infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.