Nosocomial infection at a neonatal care unit

The incidence of nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit was evaluated to be 11.5% over a 2 year-survey period (1984-1985) in 451 artificially ventilated newborns. Staphylococcus, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas were the most frequently identified germs. Low birth weight, gestational age, mode of delivery and type of the initial pathology were not found to be responsible for the superinfection. The duration of hospitalization was 3 times longer and the cost per infant largely increased in cases with infection. Antibiotic treatment at admittance seemed to delay the onset of nosocomial infection by 8 to 12 days in this population.