Iyad Naeem, Baqir S, Naqvi S, Khursheed Hashimi, Shahnaz Gouhar.
Incidence rate and distribution of Pediatric nosocomial infections.
Pak J Pharmacol Jan ;24(1):53-9.

The mechanism of action of Nosocomial infection as in any other infectious disease is dependent on host, agent and environment factors. Risk factors for the host are age, nutritional status and co-existing disorders. The organism`s intrinsic virulence as well as its ability to colonize and survive within institutions influence nosocomial infections. Diagnostic procedures, medical devices, medical and surgical treatments are risk factors in the hospital environment. Unlike the adults, children are the more susceptible subjects of such kind of infections especially the neonates. Neonatal intensive therapy units usually have a prevalence of about 20% and superimposed by virulent and usually antibiotic resistant strains because of following reasons: Children that are admitted usually have weak immune system, so they may acquire the colonization of any type of organism. Ill babies require more handling hence the spread via contact. In describing the incidence rate and distribution of nosocomial infections in children, for implementation and improving infection control measures, one hundred and twenty four isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa/Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA) and Klebsiella specie, were collected from a pediatric hospital setting in Karachi. The results showed more than 24 % (124 isolates of 513 cultures that were suspected of acquiring nosocomial infection) incidence percentage rate. Nosocomial infections are caused in children in a developing country due to the lack of sanitation, monitoring and implementation of infection control procedures. Common sources of such infections were the water supply, poor ward/operation theatre hygienic conditions and utensils.

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