ABSTRACT 605

Abstract

Background and aims: Patients in intensive care units are at high risk of infection because of the extensive use of invasive devices and procedures. Aims: We aimed to determine the incidence of intensive care unit-acquired infections. Methods: Data deriving from TIPNet, a data web connecting 16 PICUs, were analyzed as to patients’ demographics and incidence of nosocomial infections. Results: Between January 2010 and November 2013 8683 patients were admitted to the Italian PICUs; those whose length of stay was less than 48 hours were excluded, leaving 4414 patients left. Total number of acquired infections was 614 (13.9%). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounted for the majority of them (160/26%), vascular catheter-associates infection incidence was 8.9% (55/614), bloodstream infections were 12.7 % of total infections (78/614), genitourinary infections 5.5 %(34/614) and gastronteric 4.3% (27/614). The most frequent pathogens were Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (21%), Acinetobacter baumanii (12%), Staphylococcus Aureus (8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8%), Candida Albicans (7%). Antibiotic resistance in the detected infections was 21%. Conclusions: Incidence of nosocomial infections among Italian PICU is in line with international standards; however, the application of quality improvement interventions, such as de-escalation of antibiotics, strict asepsis during insertion manoeuvres, and early ablation of invasive devices when not necessary anymore, could possibly reduce it (2). (1) The impact of a quality improvement intervention to reduce nosocomial infections in a PICU. Esteban E. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 2013 (2) Joram N. Healthcare-associated infection prevention in pediatric intensive care units: a review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis (2012) 31:2481–2490.