Healthcare-associated infections and drug resistance in immunocompromised children with cancer in a low income country

Aim: It was a clinical audit conducted over 6 monthsperiod in order to determine the characteristics of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) immunocompromised children with cancer developing country. Methods: descriptive, cohort study department Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital Lahore. All patients age less than 16 years, admitted pediatric oncology unit, having neutropenia and any culture-proven HAI were included. Data analyzed SPSS 16.0. Results: total number ofHAIs 101 while infected 83. per 1000 patient days 6.66. most common bloodstream infection (BSI). Sixty-nine percent HAIs gram-negative 31% gram-positive. Klebsiella species Staphylococcal Aureus gram-positive organism. Pan-resistance encountered 25.74%, Carbepenam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae 16%, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci 3%, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 2%. Mean hospital stay 20.22 days, 60.25% discharged, 39.75% expired. Conclusion: Drug resistance is seen about half HAIs. Gram-negative are cause our setup.HAI drug areassociated significant morbidity mortality pose major challenge their management especially resource-limited setting. Keywords: Childhood cancer, resistance, Healthcare-associated infections, Low-middle-income country