A prospective study of nosocomial infection in a neonatal intensive care unit

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Abstract
Objective: To determine the incidence of and organisms responsible for neonatal nosocomial infection (after 72 h of age). Methodology: A 1-year evaluation of 321 consecutive septic work-ups performed on 130 of 1008 babies admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for more than 72 h. Fifty-seven (89%) of 64 infants of birthweight 500-999 g, 36 (34%) of 105 infants 100-1499g, 27 (6%) of 422 infants 1500–2499g and 10 (28%) of 477 infants of birthweight staphylococci (CONS) were cultured from 23 babies, Gram negative bacilli in 14 and Candida spp. in three babies. Sepsis caused or contributed to the deaths of six babies. Conclusion: This study identifies infants of birthweight > 1000 g as the highest risk group for nosocomial infection especially CONS. New strategies in prevention, surveillance and treatment are required for extremely low birthweight infants.

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