Steps to reduce nosocomial infections in children

The ltypes of nosocomial infections in children vary depending on the child's age, hospital unit, and instrumentation devices in use. The most common include viral upper and lower respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Effective preventive measures are under study; howver, hand hygiene remains the single most effective measure. In addition, adherence to isolation guidelines, catheter care guidelines, and varicella and influenza vaccination recommendations, along with screening visitors and health care workers for illness, are key measures in the prevention of pediatric nosocomial infections.

Duke Scholars

Author Kathleen Anne McGann Pediatrics