Acute Bacterial Gastroenteritis as Hospital-acquired Infection in Pediatrics

ACUTE BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS AS HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION IN PEDIATRICS (Abstract): Gastroenteritis as hospital-acquired infection represents one of the most important issue to be managed in pediatric units. Material and methods: The descriptive study was conducted on a group of 536 cases with bacterial gastroenteritis as heal thcare associated infections (HAIs), admitted in „Sf. Maria” Children's Emergency Hospital, Iasi, during 2013-2016. Results: Distribution according to pathogens detected by specific investigations showed that Campylobacter (69.77%) was involved in most cases of gastroenteritis, followed by those determined by Salmonella (21.45%). Distribution by age group highlighted that children of 0-1-year-old were the most affected and Campylobacter was the most involved pathogen in gastroenteritis of that age group, followed by cases with Salmonella gastroenteritis. Children from 2-6 and 6-11-years age groups were involved in gastroenteritis with Salmonella followed by that with Campylobacter. Children of 12-18-years-old were admitted with gastroenteritis due to Salmonella, then E. coli. Shigella spp. was isolated in 10 cases, and Yersinia spp. in only 3 cases. Conclusions: The issue of gastroenteritis as a hospital-acquired infection remains hereafter the keystone of hospital management, as well as prevention and control strategies.