Abstract

URIBE-SALGADO, Lizbeth Guadalupe; MOGUEL-PARRA, Guadalupe; PEREZ-ROBLES, Víctor Manuel  and  SANTOS-PRECIADO, José Ignacio. Nosocomial infection score card to evaluate basic procedures in pediatric intensive care units. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2006, vol.63, n.2, pp.76-83. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. Objective: to evaluate a nosocomial infection reporting card to monitor basic medical procedures that impact on patient safety in pediatric intensive care units. Material and methods. Prospective, descriptive and consecutive monthly measurement of 40 basic procedures and the resulting rate of nosocomial infections in the Medical (MICU), Surgical (SICU) and Neonatal (NICU) Intensive Care Units of a tertiary care pediatric teaching hospital during an 8 month period. Results. In each setting the evaluation of the 40 basic procedures using the Nosocomial Infection Report Card identified deficiencies in the environment, materials, procedures and handling. The rates of hospital infections at baseline and at the end of the study period in the MICU were 21% and 32%: 29% and 5% in SICU and 19% and 40% in NICU, respectively. Conclusions. The Nosocomial Infection Reporting Card is a useful tool to monitor environmental and procedural deficiencies which impinge on the rate of hospital acquired infections, prolonged hospital stay and increased hospital expenses.

Keywords : Nosocomial infections; intensive care units; infection control.