children s health issues
Hospital Acquired Infections in Newborns
Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections in Newborns
General measures that hospital staff members use to help prevent hospital-acquired infections include the following: Measures to reduce the spread ofStaphylococcus aureus Prevention of spread and infection in special care nurseries such as Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) None Careful handwashing Monitoring for infection in the hospital Sometimes antibiotics Vaccination To reduce the spread of infection during a disease outbreak in the hospital, doctors may apply antibiotic ointments to the newborn's umbilical cord, nostrils, and circumcision site. To reduce the spread of infection in special care nurseries such as NICUs, hospital staff members ensure there is sufficient space between newborns who are in incubators or warmers. They also are careful to meticulously clean and disinfect or sterilize equipment and use IVs and ventilators for as short a time as possible. Hospital staff members, parents, and caregivers can help prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections by always thoroughly washing their hands with soap and water or with antibacterial hand sanitizer. While in the hospital, newborns are carefully monitored for any signs of infection. If doctors determine an infection is spreading through the nursery, they may give certain antibiotics to newborns who are not yet infected. This preventive measure is called Taking antibiotics to prevent infections . Hospital staff members give vaccines according to the Childhood Vaccination Schedules to any infant who is in the hospital at that time. Some vaccines are not given until the time of discharge. 