Author/Editor     Dragaš, Ana Zlata; Marin, Jožica; Premru-Mueller, Manica; Moder, Biserka; Rednak, Suzana; Derganc, Meta
Title     Inkubator kor vir okužbe za nedonošenčke
Translated title     Incubator as the source of infection for newborn
Type     članek
Source     Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.     Letnik 60, št. 7-8
Publication year     1991
Volume     str. 327-8
Language     slo
Abstract     It was obligatory to change the incubator after 7 days of sojourn of the newborn in it. In this investigation we tried to determine the level of contamination on the outstanding surfaces of the incubators up to the seventh day and the possible role of hands in the transmission of microorganisms. We investigated 325 samples from the surfaces of the incubators and 105 hands of the medical staff microbiologically in search for the microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses, which could provoque a hospital infection in the pediatric intensive therapy unit for newborns. The surfaces of the incubators were highly (50 percent) contamined the third day of the newborn's sojourn with the existence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, too (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Herpesvirus simplex 1, Echovirus 5, and others). At the same these microorganisms were isolated in a high percent (37 percent) from the hands of medical doctors and nurses. We assume that the incubators should be changed not later than the third day. After use they must be disinfected in case of heavily ill and septic patients. The contamination on incubators is probably conected with the contamination of hands and vice versa. The through cleaning and disinfection of hands before entering the incubator and after exiting is obligatory. This investigation was conducted in the non-epidemic period.
Descriptors     INCUBATORS, INFANT
INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, NEONATAL
CROSS INFECTION
INFANT, PREMATURE
INFANT, NEWBORN