Outcome and its predictors of children with nosocomial infection in ayder pediatric ICU, Tigray, Ethiopia

Objective

The main objectives of this study were to assess the outcomes and predictors of nosocomial infections in pediatric patients.

Method

A hospital-based retrospective observational study and a consecutive sampling technique were used to collect data. Categorical data were compared using Pearson’s Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier analysis was also used to assess survival. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 45 patients who developed nosocomial infections were analyzed. The incidence density of nosocomial infection was 41.1 per 1000 patient-days. Most patients were male (53.3 %) and under 14 (75.6 %), with a median age of 1 year. Statistically significant variables associated with increased mortality included female gender, transfer from the ward, prolonged maintenance fluid duration (>3 days), the need for mechanical ventilation, and the presence of comorbid illnesses, as indicated by chi-square analysis. Patients with nosocomial infections had a longer hospital stay (20 days vs. 10 days) and a higher mortality rate (26.7 % vs. 19.1 %) compared to those without nosocomial infections. Nosocomial infections resulted in an excess crude mortality rate of 7.5 %.

Conclusion

Preventive measures should be prioritized given the identified risk factors for nosocomial infections. Patients with nosocomial infections are at an increased risk of mortality.