[Effect of the "baby friendly" program on the number of neonatal infections at the maternity ward in Senta].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this paper was to assess how the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative affects occurrence, structure and outcome of neonatal infections at our department.


METHODS
This retrospective study included all newborn infants born in 1995, when all the babies were at the neonatal ward and all the babies born in 1998, who were with their mothers. Newborn infants with low-birth-weight or shortened gestation were excluded. The assumption was that faster onset of lactation and thus breast-feeding decrease incidence of infections, but that there is an increased risk due to hygienic habits of mothers, especially those with no qualifications and difficult living conditions. The paper assesses the percentage of infections occurrence.


RESULTS
Occurrence of infection was established clinically, whereas general signs of infection, as well as local signs of infection were confirmed by laboratory and bacteriological findings. Antibiotic therapy was applied. In great number of infections Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. In 1998 a certain increase of low-birth-weight and low gestation newborn infants was registered. In mature babies included into the Baby Friendly Program, number of infections has not changed, but the treatment was a little shorter. Infections were much more frequent in low-birth-weight and low gestation newborn infants. On the average the treatment in such cases was a little longer, but not only due to infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative has not significantly affected the incidence of intrahospital infections in newborn infants. On the average the treatment in mature newborn infants was shorter, probably due to better lactation and transfer of immunoglobulins from mother to child.


CONCLUSIONS
If Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative means adequate epidemiological supervision of mothers, this program does not significantly affect the risk from intrahospital infections.
Molnar-Sabo
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I
Sluzba za zdravstvenu zastitu dece, Zdravstveni centar Dr Gere Istvan, Senta. direktor@zdravstvosenta.co.yu
Vekonj-Fajka
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G
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D012189:Retrospective Studies