Epidemiology of nosocomial infection in neonatal units Hospital de San José, Bogotá DC. march - august 2009 Epidemiología de la infección nosocomial en la unidad neonatal hospital de San José, Bogotá DC. marzo - agosto de 2009

Abstract

Nosocomial infection is a major health problem in our country, associated to high neonatal mortality rate, numerous complications, irreversible sequelae, high costs and longer hospital stay. The risk factors at Hospital de San José (prevalence, etiologic agents and mortality rates) are described and compared with extra institutional epidemiology. An observational longitudinal descriptive study was conducted on neonates transferred from the delivery room to the neonatal unit between March and August 2009. A daily record format of the newborns that fulf1lled the inclusion criteria was used and follow-up was conducted until they were discharged. Two hundred patients were collected, 31 with clinical suspicion of a nosocomial infection (53 cases) 26.5%. Qualitative and quantitative variables were considered and analyzed as risk factors and crossed with nosocomial infection. The prevalence rate of confirmed nosocomial infection observed was lower than that observed in statistic records of other institutions (5.5%) and the microorganisms isolated were similar. Frequency was greater in full term infants suggesting risk factors may be prevented, modified and are not related to the inherent unfavorable conditions of preterm/low weight at birth neonates. A more prolonged study including a larger population must be conducted in order to obtain statistically significant results.