EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of pathogens before and after intervention in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of tertiary care hospitals.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the department of microbiology Army Medical College/National University of Medical Sciences in collaboration with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Sep 2016 to Sep 2017.

Material and Methods: All neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit during study period were included in the study; study was conducted in three phase pre implementation stage, implementation of infection control measures phase and post intervention phase.

Results: The frequency of blood pathogens in NICU decreased from 39.8% before intervention to 21.5% after intervention and there was complete eradication of few pathogens.

Conclusion: Almost 18% decrease in health care associated infections (HAIs) was observed after very simple intervention in NICU.