HACER KAMALI
Comprehensive Medicine - 2023;15(4):310-319
INTRODUCTION: In the field of pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery intensive care units (PCICU), especially neonates and infants are at higher risk for nosocomial infections. We wanted to present the infections, we encountered during the follow-up of patients in our PCICU. METHODS: Patients <1 year of age who were hospitalized in the PCICU between January 01, 2022, and January 01, 2023, who required treatment, clinical infections, and agents that had an effect on clinical outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Bloodstream infection, clinical sepsis, pneumonia, surgical site infection, and intra-abdominal infection cases were included in the study. Results: A total of 1032 patients were followed up in the PCICU between 2022 and 2023 and 598 (58%) of them were under 1 year of age. Active infection was detected in 104/598 (17.3%) of these patients. In the assessment of patient culture samples, microbial growth was identified in 83/104 (79.8%) instances within blood cultures, 47 (45%) patients in tracheal aspirate cultures, and 12 patients (11.5%) exhibited growth in sternal swab cultures, with a notable representation of Gram-negative pathogens within all this groups. Bloodstream infections were encountered more in cases with youthful age, open sternotomy, surgical complexity, prolonged duration of central venous catheter, and extended stays within the intensive care unit. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In addition to providing care for neonates and infants with compromised immune systems, PCICUs face heightened challenges due to the increased utilization of IV catheters, leaving the sternum open after complex cardiac surgeries, and prolonged intensive care stay introduces an elevated susceptibility to infections.
