Prevention and treatment of nosocomial sepsis in the NICU.
Nosocomial sepsis is a serious problem for neonates who are admitted for intensive care. It is associated with an increase in mortality, morbidity, and prolonged length of hospital stay. Thus, both the human and fiscal costs of these infections are high. Although the rate of nosocomial sepsis increases with the degree of both prematurity and low birth weight, no specific lab test has been shown to be very useful in improving our ability to predict who has a "real" blood-stream infection and, therefore, who needs to be treated with a full course of antibiotics. As a result, antibiotic use is double the rate of "proven" sepsis and we are facilitating the growth of resistant organisms in the neonatal intensive care unit. The purpose of this article is to describe simple changes in process, which when implemented, can reduce nosocomial infection rates in neonates and improve outcomes.
Clark
Reese
R
Pediatrix Medical Group Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, FL 323325-2825, USA.
Powers
Richard
R
White
Robert
R
Bloom
Barry
B
Sanchez
Pablo
P
Benjamin
Daniel K
DK
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014640:Vancomycin