title: Are red blood cell transfusions associated with nosocomial infections in critically ill children?
abstract: Although the transfusionofblood products is common practice, its effects on the immune system have not been adequately studied. A prospective cohort study was conducted in critically ill children followed up until their death, transfer or discharge to establish an association between red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) and nosocomial infections. A nosocomial infection was considered to be post-transfusional if it occurred within 14 days after RBCT. A total of 162 children were included in the study, 35 (21.6%) had a nosocomial infection, and 49 (30.2%) received a RBCT. Among those with a nosocomial infection, a RBCT was more common (48.5% versus 14.9%, OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.412.6, p 〈 0.0001) and mortality rate was higher (45.7% versus 10.2%, OR: 7.4, 95% CI: 3.1-18.2, p 〈 0.0001). The binary logistic regression showed that RBCT was independently associated with nosocomial infections (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.1-20.2, p = 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RBCT was associated with increased risk for nosocomial infections.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Trauma Shock y Estabilización, Hospital Universitario de Pediatría "Dr. Agustín Zubillaga", Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, Venezuela. omarnavedamd@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Omar E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Naveda Romero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Trauma Shock y Estabilización, Hospital Universitario de Pediatría "Dr. Agustín Zubillaga", Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Andrea F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Naveda Meléndez
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Blood transfusion; Children; Nosocomial infections; Red blood cells