Effects of erythropoietin on improving neurobehavioral premature infants with brain damage

Abstract

Objective To analyze the incidence,bacterial spectrum and clinical features of peripherally inserted central catheter-associated bloodstream infection in neonates, and to investigate the effect of infection control strategies on the occurrence of infection,by which it is helpful in choosing effective strategies for clinical practice. Methods Clinical data, results of blood culture and culture of the catheter tip were collected from 72 infants (66 of them were very low birth weight) admitted to NICU from July, 2007 to August, 2008. The incidence of PICC-associated bloodstream infection (PICC-BSI) in the old hospital was compared with that of the new hospital. Results Bacterial colonization was not found. PICC-BSI was found in 15 cases (18. 1%), including 11 cases (13.2%) with definite sepsis and 4 cases (4. 8 %) with clinical sepsis.The incidence of PICC-BSI was 10. 2/1 000 PICC-days as a whole,with 16. 1/1 000 PICC-days in the old hospital and,7. 7/1 000 PICC-days in the new hospital respectively. Eleven organisms were isolated including Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS) (4 strains), Acinetobacter baumannii (3 strains), Klebsiella pneumonia (2 strains), Enterococcus(1 strain), and Candida parapsilosis (1 strain). The incidence of PICC-BSI in the new hospital was lower compared with that of the old hospital. Conclusion Most of the isolated organisms of PICC-BSI are opportunistic and multi-drug resistant pathogen. PICC-BSI can be reduced by the effective infection control strategies in NICU. Key words: Infant,neonate; Peripherally inserted central catheter; Bacteremia; Infection