Regular Hospital Infection Control Team Rounds - A Prime Factor in Early Detection of NICU Outbreak

Hospital acquired infection is increasing day by day in all kinds of set - ups. Amongst the different pathogens Acinetobacter is one of the important owing to its great ability to survive on all kind of environmental surfaces for long time there by increasing probability of cross infection & outbreaks. Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged worldwide as an important hospital - acquired infection (HAI) causing pathogen. A. baumannii can colonize the human skin and gastrointestinal tract and thereby can cause HAIs more easily. Neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at increased risk of contracting HAIs due to their immature immune system and frequent invasive manipulations. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by A. baumannii occur primarily in premature low - birth - weight infants. In various studies related to surveillance of device - associated HAIs in a NICU A. baumannii has been described as the main cause of device - associated HAIs. HAIs outbreaks are associated with higher mortality, morbidity and increased hospital costs. Surveillance of HAIs is essential for detection and containment of the outbreaks. In this report, we describe how an implementation of the HAIs surveillance system for the first time in a NICU in tertiary care hospital led to the rapid detection of an outbreak of A. baumannii. The objective of this report is to summarize the investigation and restriction of outbreak like situation with the help of multi - modal infection control interventions.