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- Title
Multidrug-resistant bacteria in a paediatric palliative care inpatient unit: results of a one year surveillance.
- Authors
Schmidt, Pia; Hasan, Carola; Simon, Arne; Geffers, Christine; Wager, Julia; Zernikow, Boris
- Abstract
Aim: Nosocomial infections (NIs) and multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens are an important paediatric healthcare issue. In vulnerable patients such as children with life-limiting conditions, MDR infections can be life- threatening. Additionally, these children have a significantly increased risk for colonisation withMDR pathogens. Therefore, it is vital to prevent new colonisations with MDR pathogens in this vulnerable patient group. However, little is known about colonisation with MDR pathogens and NIs in inpatient units for paediatric palliative care (PPC). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of colonisation with MDR pathogens and the incidence of NIs in a PPC unit. Methods: Evaluation of surveillance data of a PPC unit. All patients ad- mitted to a PPC unit from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013 were screened for MDR pathogens upon admission. Patients who exhibited clinical signs of an infection during their inpatient stay were screened again. Results: During the study period, 198 cases were admitted to the unit. Those cases represent 118 patients. 18% of the patients were colonised with MDR pathogens. The most common MDR pathogens were E. coli (8.1%) and Pseudomonas ssp. (8.1%). In addition, 58% of patients with tracheostomy had MDR pathogens in their tracheal secretions. The in- cidence density of NIs was 0.99 per 1000 inpatient treatment days with no NI caused by MDR pathogens. Conclusion: Due to a high prevalence, it is reasonable to screen PPC patients for MDR pathogen colonisation before or during admission. Special attention must be given to patients with tracheostomy. Our results provide preliminary evidence that participation in social activities in a PPC unit for patients colonised with MDR pathogens is safe if hygiene concepts are applied.
- Subjects
BACTERIA; CHILDREN'S hospitals; ESCHERICHIA coli; HOST-bacteria relationships; MEDICAL screening; MULTIDRUG resistance; PALLIATIVE treatment; PSEUDOMONAS; PUBLIC health surveillance; TRACHEOTOMY; MICROBIAL virulence; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
GMS Hygiene & Infection Control, 2020, Vol 15, p1
- ISSN
2196-5226
- Publication type
Article