Prevention of healthcare-associated infections in children: new strategies and success stories.
OBJECTIVE
Attention to patient safety has made hospital infection prevention and control strategies a subject of increasing focus from healthcare personnel, patients and families, accrediting organizations, and government. This review highlights recent literature and new successes in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in children.


RESULTS
Emerging evidence about risk factors for various healthcare-associated infections in children will help target available adjunctive preventive interventions. Multicenter pediatric collaborative efforts to emphasize best practices have resulted in decreases in infection rates, particularly for central line-associated bloodstream infections. A low prevalence of colonization or infection with multidrug-resistant organisms in hospitalized children, combined with a lack of compelling evidence of effectiveness for active surveillance and decolonization, have made decisions about routine screening challenging.


CONCLUSIONS
A renewed interest in infection prevention by multiple stakeholders has energized our field and contributed to impressive successes in reducing rates of healthcare-associated infections. Nevertheless, important knowledge gaps remain and an emphasis on funding of high-quality, rigorous studies to answer unresolved questions will be critical to our efforts to further prevent infections for hospitalized children.
Sandora
Thomas J
TJ
Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. thomas.sandora@childrens.harvard.edu
D035843:Biomedical Research; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection