Recently tested strategies to reduce nosocomial infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in reducing hospital-acquired infections in critically ill patients. We review three recently tested strategies to decrease nosocomial infections specifically in the neonatal intensive care unit. These include improvement of hand hygiene, the incorporation of hand-hygiene practices into broader care bundles, and the prophylactic administration of antimicrobials, especially fluconazole, to infants at high risk prior to the onset of infection. The effectiveness of the first two interventions is well supported, particularly in older patient populations, while the effectiveness of the third is counterbalanced by the threat of the emergence of resistant-organism infections.
Toltzis
Philip
P
Division of Pharmacology and Critical Care, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. pxt2@case.edu
Walsh
Michele
M
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015725:Fluconazole