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Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infections in Selected Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Colombia, South America

Journal of Perinatology volume 25, pages 537–541 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study was designed to identify risk factors for nosocomial infections among infants admitted into eight neonatal intensive care units in Colombia. Knowledge of modifiable risk factors could be used to guide the design of interventions to prevent the problem.

STUDY DESIGN:

Data were collected prospectively from eight neonatal units. Nosocomial infection was defined as culture-proven infection diagnosed after 72 hours of hospitalization, resulting in treatment with antibiotics for >3 days. Associations were expressed as odds ratios. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders.

RESULTS:

From a total of 1504 eligible infants, 80 were treated for 127 episodes of nosocomial infection. Logistic regression analysis identified the combined exposure to postnatal steroids and H2-blockers, and use of oral gastric tubes for enteral nutrition as risk factors significantly associated with nosocomial infection.

CONCLUSION:

Nosocomial infections in Colombian neonatal intensive care units were associated with modifiable risk factors including use of postnatal steroids and H2-blockers.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., The Institute of Latin American Studies, University Center for International Studies (UCIS) and The Tinker Foundation of the University of North Carolina. We thank physicians and nurses involved in data collection from Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Fundacíon Santa Fe de Bogotá, Clínica San Pedro Claver, Fundacíon Valle de Lilli, Hospital Universitario Clínica San Rafael, Clínica del Country, Hospital Simon Bolivar and Centro Policlínico del Olaya. Our gratitude to Esperanza Peña RN, MSc., for the coordination of this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Mario A Rojas MD, Meica M Efird MD, MSPH & Carl L Bose MD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Javeriana University, Bogotá, Colombia

    Juan M Lozano MD, MSc, María X Rojas RN, Martín A Rondón MSc & Gloria Ruiz MD

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia

    Juan G Piñeros MD

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Centro Policlínico del Olaya, Bogotá, Colombia

    Catherine Rojas MD

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario Clínica San Raphael, Bogotá, Colombia

    Guillermo Robayo MD

  6. Department of Pediatrics, Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia

    Angela Hoyos MD

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Clínica San Pedro Claver, Bogotá, Colombia

    Maria H Gosendi MD

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Fundación Valle de Lilli, Cali, Colombia

    Hernan Cruz MD

  9. Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, USA

    Michael O'Shea MD, MPH

  10. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Simon Bolivar, Bogotá, Colombia

    Angela Leon MD

Authors
  1. Mario A Rojas MD
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  2. Meica M Efird MD, MSPH
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  3. Juan M Lozano MD, MSc
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  4. Carl L Bose MD
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  5. María X Rojas RN
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  6. Martín A Rondón MSc
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  7. Gloria Ruiz MD
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  8. Juan G Piñeros MD
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  9. Catherine Rojas MD
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  10. Guillermo Robayo MD
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  11. Angela Hoyos MD
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  12. Maria H Gosendi MD
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  13. Hernan Cruz MD
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  14. Michael O'Shea MD, MPH
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  15. Angela Leon MD
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Consortia

Colombian Neonatal Research Network

Additional information

Research supported in part by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., The Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), University Center for International Studies (UCIS), and The Tinker Foundation of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

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Rojas, M., Efird, M., Lozano, J. et al. Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infections in Selected Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Colombia, South America. J Perinatol 25, 537–541 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211353

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