Prevalence and Causes of Nosocomial Infections in Tabriz Mardani-Azar Children's Medical Center

Abstract

Hospital infections (Nosocomial Infections-NIs) are one of the most common complications among hospitalized children, and they are responsible not only for increasing the duration of hospitalization and significant costs but also for increasing morbidity in children. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and causes of nosocomial infections in the Mardani-Azar children's hospital, Tabriz. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, the files of all patients who were admitted to Tabriz Children's Educational and Therapeutic Center from April 1, 2021, to March 29, 2022, and were diagnosed with hospital-acquired infections in different departments were studied (a total of 625 patients). Patient information includes Demographic information, Type of hospital infection (urinary, skin, surgical site, blood, and respiratory infection), The organism responsible for the infection, and the patient's primary disease. The patient's hospital ward, the factors contributing to the infection, and the invasive procedures performed for the patient (implantation) (e.g., urinary catheter, central venous catheter, intubation, insertion of drainage catheters, etc.) were examined and recorded. Results: The mean age of the patients was 8.32 ± 2.2 years. Gender in most patients was male, with a frequency of 378 cases (60.5%). The most common microorganisms detected were Klebsiella with 72 cases (11.5%), Escherichia coli with 37 cases (5.9%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 33 cases (5.3%). The most common invasive procedures included arterial/venous catheters with 117 cases (18.7%), urinary catheterization with 34 cases (5.4%), and intubation with 19 cases (3.0%) respectively. The most common Type of infection diagnosed was Bloodstream infection, with 214 cases (34.2%); Urinary tract infection, with 159 cases (25.4%); and Surgical site infection, with 63 cases (10.1%). The highest frequency of nosocomial infections was related to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with 206 cases (40.0%), the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with 155 cases (24.8%) and blood with 114 cases (18.2%). Extended hospitalization, neutropenia, use of a central venous catheter, and administration of carbapenems are risk factors that predict NI in hospitalized children.