Hospital Infections and Management In Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Today, the rates for keeping advanced premature and low birth weight babies alive have increased due to developing intensive care conditions [1]. However, the neonates, especially the preterm and low birth weight infants, have a poor defense system against microorganisms. The neonates are susceptible to infections particularly due to undeveloped defense barriers, poor ability to localize the pathogens, and the immature cellular and humoral defense mechanisms. Furthermore, the factors, including the risk for infection, include extended follow-up of the NICU patients, invasive interventions, low birth weight, preterm birth, total parenteral nutrition and congenital anomalies [2, 3]. Nosocomial infection is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in NICU infants. Considering it occurs within 48-72 hours after birth, it is also called late neonatal sepsis. The most common infections are circulatory infections, pneumonia, and urinary system infections. The rate of the hospital-acquired infections in the NICU varies between 7% and 24%, depending on the intrinsic (gestational age and birth weight) and extrinsic factors (number of patients under care, the frequency of invasive intervention, number of experienced personnel, medical equipment and infrastructure, and medical treatments) [4]. Due to the increased chance of survival for the premature and very low birth weight infants in recent years, NIs are a significant problem of NICUs. Nosocomial infections account for not just morbidity and mortality, but also for the prolonged hospital stays and increased healthcare costs [1, 3].