Neonatal nosocomial infections

Abstract

Nosocomial acquisition of infection is already the most common mode of transmission of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) nowadays. Low birth weight and ill infants has increased survival in the neonatal intensive care with the advance of new and invasive technology and nosocomial infections has become important causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Surveillance studies have shown that infection rate in NICU could be as high as 15-20%. Because major pathogens of nosocomial infection change by geographic area and time, knowledge of the most common causative microorganisms of nosocomial infection with surveillance studies is important for the selection of infection control measures and initial emprical antibiotic therapy.