Objectives:

Calculation of incidence and repartition of nosocomial infections (NI).

Methods:

A total of 431 neonates hospitalised 48 h or more, in 2000 and in 2002, were studied: gestational age, birth weight, artificial ventilation and central vascular catheter utilisation were noted.

Results:

We have counted 61 NI and 51 infected neonates. Patients (n = 431); total number of hospitalisation days (6180) Sixty-one NI (14.1% of entries) for 51 infected neonates (11.8% of entries) : 9.9 NI/1000 hospitalisation days and 8.2 infected neonates/1000 hospitalisation days. Forty bacteriaemias: 67.2% of NI; 6.6 bacteriaemias/1000 hospitalisation days; 15.7 bacteriaemias/1000 device days (vascular catheter utilisation). A total of 14 pulmonary infections: 23% of NI; 2.3 IP/1000 hospitalisation days; 9.8 IP/1000 days artificial ventilation. Infection risk for a weight<=1500 g: RR** = 7.45 – infection risk for gestational age <=32 weeks: RR** = 3.48 – CRIB* >4: RR** = 4.80.

Conclusions:

The infection risk is far higher when the birth weight is <=1500 g. When gestational age is <=32 weeks and when the CRIB is >4, relative risk is multiplied by 4.80. The first micro-organism responsible for bacteriaemias is Staphylococcus epidermidis. When a device, such as a central vascular catheter is used, the RR of NI is multiplied by 80. In 2000, one possible death was noted. *CRIB: clinical risk index for babies; **RR: relative risk.