[Endemic intravenous fluid contamination in pediatric wards].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of contamination of intravenous solutions and injection ports in pediatric patients.


METHODS
During non-epidemic periods, eight pediatric wards in Mexican hospitals were studied. Qualitative cultures were performed from the surface of injection ports and from intravenous solutions in use in pediatric patients younger than 2 years, culturing 750 infusion systems from 728 patients.


RESULTS
The rate of contamination of intravenous solutions was 2.4% (18/750; CI 95%: 1.3% to 3.5%) and for injection ports it was 3.2% (24/750; CI 95%: 2.1% to 4.3%). Enterobacteriaceae predominated; in four cases the organisms isolated from the port and from the solutions were coincident (Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter sp.). The rate of contamination for solutions mixed in the wards was 5.1%, against 1.3% of those not mixed (chi2 = 9.19, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Contamination of parenteral solutions is not a rare phenomenon and it could be related to inappropriate practices in the preparation of intravenous solutions and medications as well as the contamination of injection ports. In hospitals working with standards similar to those reported here, the monitoring of sterility of intravenous solutions could contribute to reduce the rate of nosocomial bacteremia.
Muñoz
Juan Manuel
JM
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Guanajuato, León. jmunozb@me.com
Zapién
Reynaldo
R
Ponce-De-León
Samuel
S
Alvarez
José Antonio
JA
Mosqueda
Juan Luis
JL
Gallaga
Juan Carlos
JC
Macías
Alejandro Ernesto
AE
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010372:Pediatrics; D012996:Solutions
D012996:Solutions