ABSTRACT

We aimed to determine the risk factors for the development of hospital-acquired infection.

Between 01.01.2010 –12. 31.2010, children aged 1 month – 18 years who admitted the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and followed more than 48 hours were evaluated retrospectively.

Hospital-acquired infection developed in 61 of 186 patients (32.7%). In those cases, 116 hospital-acquired infections emerged. 85 cases (%73.2) had bloodstream infections. Despite the detection of 60 cases (51.8%) of gram-negative microorganisms, the most frequently identified bacteria was meticilline resistant S. Aureus (31 cases, 26.7%). After the patients with and without hospital-acquired infection have been assessed by univariate analysis, the significant parameters were subjected to logistic regression test. The PIM 2 and PRISM scores were not found significant between the patients (p<0.05). The chronic illness, operation, sedation, total parenteral nutrition, transfusion and central venous catheter has been identified as the risk factors for hospital-acquired infection in our unit (p<0,05). The length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (44.6 vs. 7.9 days) and in the hospital (66.3 vs. 19.6 days) were longer in the patients who had hospital-acquired infection (p<0.05). More deaths occurred in patients with hospital-acquired infection (36% vs. 19.2%) (p<0,05).

The hospital-acquired infection is common in our pediatric intensive care unit and it affects the morbidity and mortality adversely. The chronic illness, operation, sedation, total parenteral nutrition, transfusion and central venous catheter increase the risk of hospital-acquired infection in children in pediatric intensive care unit.

Keywords: Pediatric intensive care unit, hospital-acquired infection, the risk factors for the hospital-acquired infection.