Monitoring nosocomial bacterial infections in neonatal intensive care unit at Zagazig University Hospital

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at monitoring nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care unit by tracing the source of infection [nurses, neonates and environment]. The sample was composed of 22 nurses, 60 newly admitted neonates and 16 neonates who manifested sepsis during a period of 6 months, in addition to 22 swabs taken from environment. The results revealed that all the groups who participated in the study were colonized by bacteria. Nurses were the first source of infection where they completely neglected hand washing and had poor levels of performance of hand-washing and universal precaution. Nurses nails were colonized by coagulase negative staphylococci [36.4%] and coagulase positive staphylococci [27.2%]. The throats of 54.5% of them were colonized by streptococci. Neonates were colonized by coagulase negative staphylococci and Klebsiella in their ears, axillae, nose, anus and umbilicus. Windows of incubators and floors were colonized by both coagulase negative and positive staphylococci. Bacteriological surveys of nurses should be conducted yearly and continuous in-service programs should be offered to them