[Nosocomial infections. Experience at a third-level pediatric hospital]. / Infecciones nosocomiales. Experiencia en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of an epidemiologic surveillance program, from 1990 to the first semester of 1997, in a new high-specialty pediatric hospital and perform a comparison with previous reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The total number and type of nosocomial infections, the incidence rate and density incidence for department and division, for different age groups and according to immune statues were registered. RESULTS: The global incidence of nosocomial infections during the period was 25.7 per 100 discharges, with a progressive decrease during the last three years. Although immunocompromised patients had more infections than immunocompetent ones, the difference was not significative. The three most common infections were: pneumonia, vascular line infections and upper respiratory tract infections. It is possible that upper respiratory tract infections are contributing to the elevation of global incidence rates of nosocomial infections. CONCLUSIONS: The change of infection epidemiology regarding previous experience has led to the implementation of programs to prevent the most frequent problems. It is necessary to intensify the different prevention programs and to increase their reach in order to cut down costs in a short term.

[Streptococcus group B in the etiology of neonatal infection]. / Streptococcus del grupo B en la etiología de la infección neonatal.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes maternal infections during perinatal period and serious neonatal infections. Their frequency in our country is still unknown. This study analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 13 neonates inborn at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología with early or late onset group B streptococcal infection. The incidence of early onset diseases (EOGBS) was 0.7 cases/1,000 live births among 20,054 inborn, and 1 case/20,000 live births of late onset diseases. EOGBS was more common in preterm newborn (median 33.2 w), low birth weight (median 2.025 g) with several maternal risk factors. Lethality rate was 38.5% (5/13). GBS is a recent important pathogen in our institute that must be investigated in another institution of our country. Group B Streptococcus; neonatal septicemia; neonatal pneumonia.