Device-associated infections in a Colombian neonatal intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was aimed at determining device-associated infection rates, device use rates and the microbiologic profile of nosocomial infections in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) in Bogotá, Colombia.


METHODS
Prospective nosocomial infection surveillance was implemented in a neonatal intensive care unit for 11 months in line with the High Risk Nursery component of the Colombian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance programme. Patient-days, length of stay, device use rates and device-associated nosocomial infection rates were calculated.


RESULTS
1 998 device days were observed among 2 890 patient days during the 11 months' surveillance. Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection was the most common device-associated infection for all birth-weight categories. 69,2 % and 100 % of all coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus infections were methicillin resistant strains and all gram negative rods were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, ciprofloxacin and piperacillin-tazobactam. Device-associated infection and device use rates in the ICU were higher than Colombian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance reports for October 2004 and reports from Colombia and other Latin-American countries.


CONCLUSIONS
This surveillance identified blood-stream infection as being the most common infection in the ICU in question. Efforts should thus be directed at establishing suitable infection-control practices.
Contreras-Cuellar
Germán A
GA
Microbiology Department, Medicine Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá. gacontrerasc@unal.edu.co
Leal-Castro
Aura L
AL
Prieto
Reinaldo
R
Carvajal-Hermida
Alba L
AL
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000382:microbiology