Objective:

To describe the incidence, site distribution, and pathogen profile of nosocomial infections in preterm infants born at <32 weeks’ gestation, identify independent risk and protective factors, and assess the association between nosocomial infection and major neonatal complications.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• 31.18% of infants developed nosocomial infections, with an episode rate of 35.88%.
• Respiratory tract infections were the most common, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being the predominant pathogen.
• PICC catheterisation and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency were identified as independent risk factors for infection.
• Delayed cord clamping was found to be independently protective against infections.
• BPD incidence was significantly higher in the infection group compared to the non-infection group.

Interpretation:

Nosocomial infections significantly affect preterm infants <32 weeks’ gestation, with specific modifiable factors influencing infection risk.

Limitations:

• Single-centre study may limit generalizability of findings.
• Retrospective design may introduce biases in data collection and interpretation.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the prevalence of nosocomial infections in preterm infants and suggests modifiable factors for potential infection prevention.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.