An Epidemiological Study of Nosocomial Infections in Tabriz Children's Hospital Based on National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNIS)

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are major public health problems particularly in developing countries. These are one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in hospitals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the epidemiology of NIs in a university-affiliated pediatric hospital in Northwest of Iran. The epidemiology of nosocomial infections were evaluated in Tabriz children hospital during a 12 month period from May 2008 to May 2009 using national nosocomial infections surveillance system definitions. One hundred and three patients (56.3% males and 43.7% females) were diagnosed with nosocomial infections. The incidence of nosocomial infection was 1.33 per 100 hospital discharges and 0.34 days per 100 hospital days. Frequencies of nosocomial infections by type were as follows bacteremia (68.9%), urinary tract infection (13.6), lower respiratory tract infection (9.7%), and wound infection (7.8%). Neonates ward was the highest portion of nosocomial infections followed by NICU and hematology wards. The most common pathogenic organisms were Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (35%), Klebsiella (20.4%), Serattia (9.7%), E. coli (6.8%), and Pseudomonas (5.8%). The mean hospital stay was 25.54 +/- 17.64 days. The difference in the mean stay days for patients with nosocomial infection and non-infected patients (3.9 +/- 1.5 days) was statistically significant (P<0.0001). More than one-fourth of these patients expired. Our study emphasizes the need for implementing further health associated infections surveillance systems with proper methods to prevent and manage infections in hospitalized patients.