OP-111 Neonatal intensive care health service-associated infection surveillance central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection

• Published in: BMJ paediatrics open Vol. 8; no. Suppl 5; p. A50
• Main Authors: Ünkar, Zeynep Alp, Pınar, Eymen, Demir, Hakan, Ayvaz, Bilal Berke, Ulu, Ersin, Vural, Mehmet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 11-07-2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: catheter; Catheters; Disease control; infection; Intensive care; neonatal; Neonatal care; Newborn babies; Nosocomial infections; Oral Presentation; Pediatrics; Surveillance
• ISSN: 2399-9772
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-EPAC.110

AimThe survival of low-birth-weight premature infants and their prolonged follow-up in Neonatal Intensive Care Units(NICUs) pose various risks. The use of invasive devices and the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in neonatal intensive care units range from 9.3% to 25%.(1) It is essential to identify infectious agents through surveillance studies conducted by the Hospital Infection Control Committee(HICC).Material and MethodThe Hospital Infection Control Committee(HICC) conducted Healthcare-Associated Infection(HAI) surveillance in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) from 2021 to 2023. Using the ’Ministry of Health National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance Guide (2017)’ data for 2021–2022 was presented in four periods, and 2023 data in 2 periods, classified by incidence density, infection rates, invasive device-associated infections, device usage rates, and causative agent distribution.(2)ResultsIn 2021, with 250 patient admissions and an infection rate of 19%, the incidence density was 12.2. Infants weighing <750 grams had a 24% Central Venous Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infection(CVCBI) rate. Despite a high incidence density of 18.6 in the 1st period, with introducing a checklist created by the HICC team to ensure adherence to infection control measures during the placement of CVC/PICC/SVC it significantly decreased in the 2nd period to 8.5. In 2022, adherence to protocols when compared with national data, our CVCBI rate for babies weighing <750 grams has decreased to the 70th percentile which was above 90th percentile before 2021. In 2023, improvements in protocols led to decreased CVC infections, aligning with national averages, especially for infants weighing <1000 grams.ConclusionsSVC-Related Bloodstream Infection density for all weight categories decreased from 12.1 in 2021 to 6.1 in 2022 and further to 6.2 in the first 6 months of 2023. This decline indicates a reduction in infection density compared to the previous period. Implementing a Active surveillance system is key to achieving a significant reduction or complete prevention of hospital infections.