Neonatal sepsis in Egypt associated with bacterial contamination of glucose-containing intravenous fluids.
BACKGROUND
Rates of sepsis exceeding 50% in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Cairo, Egypt, were not controlled by routine antimicrobial therapy. We investigated these conditions in September 2001.


METHODS
Case series and retrospective cohort studies were conducted on 2 groups of NICU infants admitted to an academic medical center between February 12 and July 31, 2001. Observation of clinical practices led us to culture in-use intravenous (i.v.) fluids and medications. We monitored rates of i.v. fluid contamination, clinical sepsis and mortality after interventions to establish new procedures for handling and disposal of i.v. fluids, infection control training and improved clinical laboratory capacity.


RESULTS
Among infants in the retrospective cohort group, 88 (77%) of 115 had clinical sepsis, and 59 (51%) died. In the case series group, we documented the time of initial positive blood culture; 21 (64%) of 33 were septic <24 hours after birth. Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 24 (73%) of 33 isolates; 14 (58%) of 24 were extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing and aminoglycoside-resistant. On admission, all neonates received glucose-containing i.v. fluids; i.v. bottles (500 mL) were divided among multiple infants. The i.v. fluids were prepared at the bedside; poor hand hygiene and poor adherence to aseptic techniques were observed. K. pneumoniae was isolated from 13 (65%) of 20 in-use glucose-containing i.v. fluids. Fluid contamination, sepsis and mortality rates declined significantly after intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Extrinsically contaminated i.v. fluids resulted in sepsis and deaths. Standard infection control precautions significantly improve mortality and sepsis rates and are prerequisites for safe NICU care.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Kelly L
KL
Moore
Marion A
MA
Kainer
Nadia
N
Badrawi
Salma
S
Afifi
Momtaz
M
Wasfy
Moataza
M
Bashir
William R
WR
Jarvis
Tae Wha
TW
Graham
Amani
A
el-Kholy
Reginald
R
Gipson
Daniel B
DB
Jernigan
Frank
F
Mahoney
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D004340:Drug Contamination; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005947:Glucose; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D012996:Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D012996:Solutions; D005947:Glucose