Use of an Electronic Surveillance System to Reduce Incidence of Klebsiella Pneumoniae in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Pneumonia is a severe complication in extremely preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It is associated with both an increased length of stay and a high mortality rate. In our 83-bed NICU, the use of routine surveillance and review of lab data does not provide a consistent approach to identifying trends. Through the use of an electronic surveillance system, monthly pattern reports are used to promptly identify and control infections.