Prevention of Nosocomial Bacteremia and Mortality Among Neonates at a Tertiary Referral Center in Zambia
Prevention of Nosocomial Bacteremia and Mortality Among Neonates at a Tertiary Referral Center in Zambia
The purpose of this study is to estimate the burden of disease, identify risk factors associated with nosocomial bacteremia among neonates and assess the efficacy of low-cost measures targeted to known and suspected nosocomial BSI (bloodstream) risk factors, the investigators propose to study the impact of a novel package of infection control interventions on nosocomial bacteremia and mortality among neonates at a tertiary care center in sub-Saharan Africa.
The study is an18 month prospective quasi-experimental evaluation of nosocomial bacteremia and mortality among hospitalized neonates and will consist of a 6-month baseline period to capture the incidence and all-cause mortality of nosocomial BSIs, a 1-month implementation period of low-cost infection control strategies (including alcohol-based hand rub [AHR], 2% chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG], hospital staff education and text message-based reminders of infection control recommendation) and an 11-month intervention period.
All neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia during the study period will be eligible for study enrollment. This study will determine the capacity of an innovative bundle of low cost, simple and locally available interventions that leverage new technologies and expand application of highly effective interventions in order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial bacteremia among NICU patients in a developing country setting.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: